Faith Ogbole, a researcher at the University of Africa Toru-Orua (UAT) in Bayelsa State, has achieved a groundbreaking innovation by creating a plant that converts waste into methane gas, commonly known as biogas, which can be used as cooking gas. This development, funded by the Bayelsa State Government through the Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund, is the result of a year-long research effort aimed at addressing waste management, energy affordability, and job creation, according to the news report by Premium Times.
During a demonstration of her findings, Ms. Ogbole showcased the plant’s functionality to officials from the trust fund who visited the university located in Toru-Orua, Sagbama Local Government Area. She expressed gratitude to the fund for supporting her project, which focuses on producing and purifying methane gas from various waste sources, including septic tanks, plantain peels, animal dung, and grasses.
The locally fabricated plant is designed to process all types of waste. The waste is ground and fed into an airtight tank, where it undergoes a natural decomposition process to generate gas. This gas is then purified and converted into methane, which can be used for cooking and other applications.
Ms. Ogbole highlighted that her motivation for the project stemmed from the rising cost of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and the urgent need to create job opportunities and generate wealth for the university and the state. She also emphasized the environmental benefits of the innovation, noting that it would help reduce waste and promote cleaner energy solutions.
The project was inspected by a delegation led by Francis Sikoki, the Vice-Chancellor of UAT and Acting Chairperson of the trust fund. Accompanied by members of the state’s Scientific Research and Technology Development Committee, Mr. Sikoki praised the biogas initiative as a remarkable achievement. He reiterated the trust fund’s commitment to supporting research projects that are commercially viable and address real-world challenges.
Evelyn Adombazi, Chairperson of the Scientific Research and Technology Development Committee, commended the trust fund’s decision to finance the research, describing it as a strategic move that aligns with the state’s goals of fostering innovation and sustainable development.
This waste-to-biogas plant represents a significant step forward in addressing energy poverty, environmental degradation, and unemployment in Bayelsa State. By turning waste into a valuable resource, Ms. Ogbole’s invention has the potential to transform communities while contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable future.
