Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu says the ideals behind the setting up of CasaChem Global Limited’s Ethanol Plant keys into his administration’s drive to entrench value addition, social impact and job creation.

The Governor, who was represented at the event by his Senior Special Assistant on Education, Dr Adetola Salau, said this on Wednesday, April 5, 2023 during the commissioning of the plant in Epe, Lagos State.

“On behalf of the Governor and all of us at Lagos State, we are really, really pleased about projects like this because one of the things we keep emphasising over and over is to make sure that we create value for the people of the state.:

“Already, as I’m sitting here I’ve already started calculating the jobs that people will get from projects such as this. We are quite excited about projects such as this; we are very, very grateful and we want to commend the leadership of this company for awarding an executive and laudable project such as this in this area.

He expressed optimism that the plant would open up Epe to further development and economic viability, as well as create jobs for its teeming population.  

Epe is an area that we always look at as a distress area because, of course it’s in the rural area, it’s really hard for people to tap into a lot of the work that happens in the middle of the state. So, as you came here and made a factory out of it, it’s really commendable.

“I am here to say well done, it’s a job well done at this, we like projects like this, like I said we are really thinking about creating jobs in creating value for the state. The sole reason is jobs, and another reason we like projects like this is also the value it’s going to add in creating more resources here.”

“So, we will love to talk about partnerships for lots of projects that we will meet down the road. Of course, we also talk about that.

In his remarks, Chairman/Managing Director of CasaChem Global Limited, Dr Fubara Dan-Jumbo the ethanol plant aims at closing gaps in the energy sector, ramp up economic advantages in biofuels for the country and reduce fuel importation costs, stating that this would achieved in line with global best practices and an environmentally-friendly manner.

“We believe that with the right investment, Nigeria can significantly reduce energy insecurity, increase electricity accessibility, raise Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 3.5% to 8% per annum, maximize the use of available resources, and reduce the cost of fuel importation as the application of ethanol as a biofuel is one of the major market drivers.”

“As we all know, Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava in the world, producing about 40 million tons annually, yet we still face a significant shortfall in meeting our local demand for ethanol, with only three percent of the total annual demand being met locally. This has resulted in a staggering expense of over N160 billion to import ethanol into the country, which is a situation that must be curtailed.”

“In response to this challenge, Casachem Global Limited was incorporated on the 2nd of June 2021 with a mission to be a world-class inventive enterprise that uses strategic and competitive knowledge to produce and supply quality ethanol and related products to all stakeholders utilizing fit-for-purpose and efficient equipment, processes, and technology while adhering to HSE policies, codes, and standards through industry best practices.”

“Our vision is to create value-added services from environmentally friendly agricultural materials for sustainable development and improved quality of life. As a company, we are committed to our core values of being cultured, accountable, transparent, ethical, committed to customer service, pursuing continuity through excellence, striving for heights unreached within the industry, leveraging e-commerce, and being motivated to achieve our goals.”

He thanked the Lagos State Government for being intentional in creating the right atmosphere for businesses to flourish, as well as other stakeholders, who have been critical to the establishment of the plant, especially, the Epe Community for their support and hospitable disposition.

On his part, Head of the Gibson Dan-Jumbo family, Clinton Dan-Jumbo attributed the kick off of the plant to God’s handiwork, saying the Plant’s production of ethanol targets the fulfilment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The essence of God himself was all about creation; my younger brother’s focus is to continue the creative work of God and that is what has been showcased here, and again, interestingly, it is one that is sustainable.”

“He started by saying it’s a sustainable venture, and what is sustainable development, it is that development that reads and addresses the needs, that’s how it’s being defined by the United Nations, the needs of current, that’s the people who are now and does not in any way compromise the needs of the future generations to also review their own needs.

“So, it is that development that addresses the needs of the current generation without compromising the efforts, the capacity of the future generations. It has four components, the social components, the partnerships, of course, the market aspects, and also has sustainability embedded in it.”

In his goodwill message, a former President of the Bonny Graduates Forum (BGF) Ipiriala Jumbo commended CasaChem Global Limited and its Chairman, Dr Fubara Dan-Jumbo for being consistent with his vision of empowering people and creating opportunities for growth, progress and development right from their secondary school days to their time at the university.

Some of the dignitaries at the event include the wife of the CasaChem’s CEO, Blessing Dan-Jumbo, Chairman of the House Committee on Power in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Abinye Pepple, Managing Director/CEO, Plus Petrol Ltd; Chuck Ekene Nwapa, Managing Director/CEO, Western Development Company Ltd, Chris Okoroigwe, Managing Director/CEO, Rigo Microfinance Bank, Adolphus Aletor, and Publisher/CEO, Kristina Reports, Godswill Jumbo, amongst tohers.

According to its Project Manager, Gerald Ezeugo, Casachem Global Limited, which was incorporated on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, and currently has 47 staff members, with an off-taking capacity to deliver over 25,000 metric tonnes of ethanol daily, chose the Epe area in Lagos to site its ethanol plant.

He stated the consideration for access to raw materials, a ready market for off-takers and access to export facilities, outweighed the consideration to site it in Bonny Island, its initial destination, due to access to power supply, noting that “for instance, this plant is just a one hour drive to Oyo State, which is the biggest producer of cassava”.