Mudiame University, based in Irrua, Edo state, has become the second best in the country in innovation with the aim of tackling the high cost of diesel in the country.

The university developed the research in partnership with Fuel Technology, LLC, USA, to help companies in Nigeria reduce their operating expenses by more than 50 percent.

The product, on display at the recently concluded Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Annual Expo in Abuja, emerged as the second best university research at the event.

Speaking on development, the Chancellor of the University and Director General of Mudiame International Limited, Prof. Sunny Eromosele, denounced the impacts of the war between Ukraine and Russia, especially on the energy sector, adding that countries in Africa that depend on the importation of petroleum products have seen the cost increase by more than 200 percent.

It revealed that the diesel formula became sacrosanct in order to reduce the cost of running businesses in the country and by extension the prices of goods and services.

“Today in Nigeria, the cost of energy exceeds 50 percent of the operating expenses of organizations. This has forced some small businesses to close while others struggle to survive.

“As an educational institution, we have built a world-leading university for technological innovation that addresses the challenges of oil and gas, agriculture, food and safety, energy, health, manufacturing, security and transportation. in the immediate and global environments”, Eromosele said.

According to him, the Aqua-diesel was a testament to the university’s vision and mission, especially to ensure that Africa adds value to resources rather than simply focusing on exporting raw materials.

Eromosele said while the rest of the world was focusing on the energy transition, countries like Nigeria cannot be left out, stressing that the institution would help ensure Nigeria transitions to cleaner energy in a gradual and sustainable manner.

For his part, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Ernest Izevbigie, denounced the increase in the price of diesel in the country, noting that the cost has risen more than 300 percent in the last two years.

Izevbigie said the new solution would address the challenges businesses currently face, noting that businesses currently requiring around 100 liters of diesel would only require half the cost of the same amount at a lower cost to the generator and the environment. .

“Everyone will benefit from this. The prices of food and other products in the market are rising due to the cost of diesel for transport. Lowers the operating temperature and reduces pollution of the environment. The product also aligns with the sustainable development goals”, stated the VC.

Professor Izevbigie, who put Nigeria’s daily diesel consumption at around 10.3 million, said aqua-diesel production would start in the country at about one per cent of the country’s total demand and gradually increase.

Fuel Technology, LLC, USA COO Dr. Sina Davani said the adoption of diesel would result in lower emissions, a cleaner carbon footprint and improved engine performance.

Diesel, according to him, transforms the formation of soot layer with the help of water vapor.

Steam/steam, Davani said, converts soot/charcoal to carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen gas, through the “micro-explosion phenomenon,” an increase in fuel burning during the combustion cycle is now possible. .

The formation of the soot layer during the combustion cycle of a diesel engine regulates the diesel fuel in the casing to burn completely, which reduces fuel efficiency, Davani noted.

It revealed that water helps increase the heating rate by a factor of about 1.5 times, which causes the piston to descend much faster in a naturally aspirated (non-turbo equipped) diesel engine.

For a turbocharged diesel engine, Davani said the heating rate increases even more by a factor of two.