Ibadan: An electrical engineer, Mr. Toyese Oyerinde, has advised the Oyo State Government to exploit the significant deposits of marble in Igbeti, Olorunsogo Local Government Area, for electricity generation.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Oyerinde highlighted that President Bola Tinubu has boosted electricity provision for Nigerians by removing power generation from the exclusive list through the amendment of the Electricity Regulatory Act. This change permits states to generate, distribute, and transmit electricity independently. Oyerinde suggested that the vast marble deposits in Igbeti Town could potentially generate electricity not only for Oyo State but for the entire country.
Oyerinde explained, “Marble is essentially limestone exposed to atmospheric pressure. By breaking down the marble, extracting the limestone, and combining it with coal, the resultant gas can be piped to a gas turbine to produce electricity. Additionally, the limestone could be repurposed to manufacture high-quality cement.”
He also expressed concern over the state’s waste generation issues, noting that waste could be an asset if converted into power. Oyerinde pointed out the underutilized potential of manmade dams in Oyo State, which could contribute to electricity generation.
Further discussing the power infrastructure, Oyerinde lamented the abandonment of historical power projects like the Arstol Turbine at the State Secretariat and suggested that existing facilities should be utilized to reduce the dependence on the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
Additionally, Dr. Yemi Faronbi, Nigeria’s former envoy to the Philippines, advocated for a multifaceted approach to addressing the country’s electricity challenges. Drawing comparisons to the Philippines’ successful resolution of its power issues, Faronbi recommended diverse energy sources, including hydroelectricity, coal, gas, solar, and wind farms, as solutions for Nigeria.
Faronbi emphasized Nigeria’s potential in solar energy due to its geographical location and the untapped possibilities of wind farms in the north. He stressed the importance of improving the country’s transmission capacity, which currently lags behind its generation capacity due to outdated infrastructure.
Faronbi concluded by advocating for the privatization of the transmission stage, similar to the generation and distribution stages, to achieve stable electricity in Nigeria.