Samuel Bello, Abuja
Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Abubakar Bwari, has said the untapped potential of geothermal energy, as well as similar cutting edge scientific resources, will pave the way for business enterprises to thrive and ensure citizen’s well-being.
Bwari said this in Abuja, at the Nigerian Mining and Geoscience Society (NMGS) and Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) discourse series on ‘Geothermal Energy; an untapped potential,’ yesterday.
According to Bwari, inadequate electricity in many enterprises is still a major issue that negatively affects the provision of an enabling environment, and wellbeing of citizens.
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He added that sourcing for and characterising the coal resources in Nigeria had become the basis for policy direction.
“Some countries, even our sister African countries, already have a head start, in terms of research on geothermal energy.
“Information available shows that Kenya, for instance, has achieved about 1000 megawatts of energy from geothermal energy.
“Nigeria can, therefore, take a cue from this and develop a robust approach to acquiring this new energy resource.
“Experts advised that we approach this through modular basis by taking care of regional and area specific demands, particularly rural areas, rather than making each geothermal station feed the entire station,” the minister added.