BIOFUELS AS ENERGY CARRIER FOR SUSTAINABLE AUTOMOBILE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN NIGERIA

The paper presents a study of the use of biofuels as prospective energy carrier for a sustainable transportation system in Nigeria. Biofuels may be in the form of bioethanol, biodiesel, biogas, biomethane, bioalcohols including biopropanol, biobutanol and biomethanol, produced from different biological feedstocks. The rationale for conceiving the production of biofuels for blending with gasoline and diesel in Nigeria emanates from environmental, energy security and socioeconomic factors. A study of the variety of energy crops grown in Nigeria shows that cassava, sugarcane and jatroph curcus are the most prospective. A study of the effect of biodiesel on the exhaust emissions from the public transport buses shows that the on-road exhaust emissions decreased with the increase in biodiesel blend level for CO, SO 2 , and CO 2 while the NO X emissions increased. If used as a biofuel, biogas may considerably contribute to GHG emission reductions. As presented in this paper, innovation (in the form of application of biofuels as energy carrier in the transport sector) is one of the most effective tools that can facilitate development of a sustainable transportation system in the country. As suggested in this paper, development of a realistic regulatory mechanism that will require a renewable content of 5% in gasoline and a 2% renewable content in diesel fuel by 2020 may be most appropriate for the country. Development of prospective biofuels in the country and their promotion as energy carrier in the transport sector would be successful if the efforts of the Government, Universities and Research Institutions, as well as the Industry complement each other in a sustainable way.