UN funds Nigerian hydrocarbon plant

NIGERIA: The Nigerian government has finally commissioned a hydrocarbon refrigerant plant in Irolu, Ogun State.

The plant was built with a share of the US$4,444,948 funding so far approved by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in an effort to help Nigeria meet its commitment to phase out HCFCs by 2040.

The production facility was in trial production last year, but commissioning was delayed by Nigeria’s Department of Petroleum Resources requiring a licensing fee of US$50,000 for the establishment of the facility.

The facility is capable of producing R290, R600a and R600 with a minimum purity of 99.5%. It includes a gas chromatograph for a quality control testing and a bottling unit for packaging in 300g cans and 3-5kg refillable cylinders.

Training on safe handling of hydrocarbons and awareness activities have been implemented.

Nigeria’s total consumption of HCFCs in 2014 was 304.11 ODP tonnes. The country is now implementing a licensing and quota system for HCFC imports and exports in compliance with the Montreal Protocol.