Oando PLC, Nigeria’s leading energy group, in a bid to ensure only gasoline with the right ethanol level is sold in the country, has announced that it has placed orders for two state-of-the-art ethanol testing equipment known as the ‘Varian CP-3800 GC’ for donation to the Federal Government.
The two units, which are due for delivery in May, will be presented to the Federal Government, who may then assign them to any of its appointed testing agency.
Commenting on the donation, Mr. Wale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive, Oando PLC, states; “Now that Nigeria has joined the league of ethanol users globally, there is the need to ensure the availability of adequate testing facilities that meets the Nigerian specifications. This is our contribution to guaranteeing that high standards are maintained in the industry.”
The ‘Varian CP-3800 GC’ testing machines meet the 21st century analytical requirements with practical solutions for simple and complex applications. It conforms to the American Society for Testing and Materials standards. ASTM is an international standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services globally. In addition, the CP-3800 is easily configured to perform on-line analyses for monitoring critical gas and liquid process streams.
Ethanol is primarily a supplement to gasoline that is used to boost the octane level and that it meets the environmentally friendly requirements for oxygenated fuels.
However, while ethanol is positive discovery for both cars and the environment, the concern has been the level that is tolerable for vehicles. The tolerable level of ethanol differs from country to country. The acceptable limits in Europe is 5%, 10% in North America most of South America and Asia. Brazil and parts of Canada, Sweden Thailand Columbia, Japan, Australia and the Phillipines utilise E20 which is petrol with ethanol content of 20%, Nigeria has commenced with a tolerance level of 5%.
