A Nigerian researcher, Dr. Faith Ogbole, from the University of Africa Toru-Orua (UAT) in Bayelsa State, has successfully developed a waste-to-biogas facility that converts organic waste into methane gas for cooking.
The innovative project, funded by the Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund (BYEDTF), aims to provide affordable cooking gas, reduce waste, and create employment opportunities in the state.
Dr Ogbole demonstrated her research findings during a visit by BYEDTF representatives to UAT in Sagbama Local Government Area on Friday.
Expressing gratitude for the financial support, she explained that the facility processes waste materials such as septic tank sludge, grasses, plantain peels, and animal manure, turning them into purified methane gas suitable for household and commercial use.
She highlighted that the entire plant was built using local materials and operates by grinding waste, fermenting it in an airtight tank, and purifying the resulting gas before distribution.
According to her, this project was driven by the rising cost of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and the urgent need to promote clean energy solutions that can generate revenue and job opportunities while benefiting the environment.
Prof. Francis Sikoki, Vice-Chancellor of UAT and Acting Chairman of BYEDTF, praised the biogas facility, describing it as a significant step toward sustainable energy solutions.
He noted that BYEDTF had allocated research grants to scholars in state-owned institutions in 2024, with a focus on practical and commercially viable innovations.
Chief Evelyn Adombazi, Chairperson of the Scientific Research and Technology Development Committee, commended the project and encouraged Dr Ogbole to refine and scale the technology to ensure widespread access to the gas.
During their visit, the BYEDTF team also evaluated other ongoing research projects, including the Separation of Cyanide from Environmental Waste Project and the Bayelsa Larvae Project, underscoring the government’s commitment to funding transformative research.
