In a bid to proffer solutions to energy crises bedeviling the country, a University Don and the African regional Representative of National Registry Representative of National Registry of Environmental Professional (NREP) Prof. Ogbonna Joel said, University of Port Harcourt will in no distant time establish a gas turbine project in the institution to curb the epileptic power situation on campus.
Prof. Joel made the remark in an interview with journalists at the end of a programme tagged “OIL FLOW 2015” over the weekend at Centre for Petroleum Research and Training University of Port Harcourt and University of the Witwatersand, Johannesburg, South Africa with World Bank Research, and Nigerian Centre Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
Prof. Joel who is currently the Director of Centre of Petroleum Research and Training Institute of Petroleum Studies, Uniport stated that he is satisfied with the quality of paper presentations and the caliber of people from all over Africa that attended the programme as the criteria by the World Bank.
He maintained that the energy crises in Nigeria is huge and they are resolving the problem as an aspiration to fulfill the local content, because the raw materials are available in Nigeria but we are spending billions capacity for the petroleum industry.
The Prof. Joel stated that the University, the industry and the government must collaborate to solving the problem.
He said in future Uniport will have gas turbine by converting the sun energy to generate power, known as the value-added energy where the university community will benefit tremendously.
He explained that World Bank wanted Uniport a localize centre where we have Africa not regional contact, noting that there are lot of importation around the petroleum industry and as knowledge bank they want to give back to the society what they have researched on.
Also speaking, an energy expert with the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Engr. Neeka Jacobs one of the sponsors of the programme said the establishment of Modula Refinery will solve the energy crises facing the country.
In his contribution, Prof. Mike Onyekonwu said that the programme started on a good time ad charged the students to do a quality research that will improve the life of all. In his speech, Prof. Godwin Igwe suggested that establishment of Modula Refinery around the country will end fuel crises in Nigeria.
Highlights of the programme was the presentation of prices to five students for quality paper presentation.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of Uniport, Prof. Joseph Ajienka had thanked participants for their contributions to the programme. ###
