Nigeria can generate $1bn, 15,000MW from coal

If properly harnessed, the abundant coal reserves in the country can be used to create economic prosperity, thousands of jobs and solve the nation’s nagging energy problems
This was the submission of Class 2013 Graduates of Mining Engineering from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, who called on President Muhammadu Buhari to put in place activities and policies geared towards harnessing the resource.
Supporting its assertion with relevant data, the group said with coal, Nigeria can generate at least $1 billion annually in exports, create thousands of direct jobs, generate 15,000MW of energy and enhance production of steel.

In an open letter to the president, the group lamented how the thriving coal industry in the country was neglected shortly after the discovery of oil in the country, despite its economic and job creation potentialities.

They said, “Mr. President, the discovery of Crude Oil on our soil has caused us more damage than good. After the discovery of crude oil in Nigeria, every other areas where revenues were generated sharply down-streamed in which the major ones are Agriculture (Cocoa Production to be precise) and Solid Mineral sector (Coal and Steel production).

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“It is disheartening and disappointing that the production of Coal went down between 1950 and 1970 from 583,425 metric tons to a record low of 24,404 metric tons for no reason than the sweetness of Oil whilst the present day data for production of coal cannot be ascertained because of lack of solid mineral exploration and exploitation data”, the group said.

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