Lafarge says has capacity to generate 220MW clean energy

As Nigeria continues to grapple with electricity shortage, LafargeHolcim has indicated interest to supply the country with 220 Mega Watts (MW) of electricity in the nearest future through renewable energy.

The company already generates 90MW of its electricity, out of which it uses about 60MW to carry out manufacture of cement and other products, LafargeHolcim disclosed during a special media tour of the Ewekoro II Cement Plant in Ogun State, recently.

“We are already discussing with the government on the prospects of selling the remaining 30MW,” said Osagie Ogunibor, head, corporate communications, LafargeHolcim. “The company hopes to conclude the talks with the government by 2018.”

During the tour of the 3.5MMT capacity plant located 50km to the North of Lagos in Ogun State, some of the company representatives told BusinessDay that much of the electricity is generated through the use of biomass, an environment-friendly source of fuel that converts plant and animal wastes into energy. Biomass energy can be derived from five distinct sources including garbage, wood, waste, tyres, sawdust, palm kernel, landfill gases, and alcohol fuels.

Leveraging biomass energy resources, says Ogunibor, is in line with the company’s mission of promoting environment-friendly solutions, and reducing carbon dioxide emissions considerably.

The company recently renovated its quarries as part of its eco-friendly policies. The Oke Oko Ewekoro community that was once located close to the Ewekoro plant has also been moved to a new settlement built by the company.

LafargeHolcim said it is exploring partnership opportunities with the Lagos State Waste Management Agency and Ogun State Ministry of Environment to pre-treat municipal solid wastes into usable fuel.

Segun Shoyoye, the Ewekoro plant manager, stated that LafargeHolcim recently commenced the recovery of 134,000 hectares of land which has been stripped of its forest with the goal of reforestation.

“We are planting new trees like Eucalyptus and Acacia to ensure that the earth we met is not wasted by our activities,” He said. “The company is collaborating with the Ogun State Forest Landscape Restoration Project and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).”

FRANK ELEANYA