Seven young Nigerian engineering graduates have explained how they invented the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) stove which is expected to open in December.
The inventors spoke Thursday in Lagos when Information and Culture Minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed paid a working visit to the Nigerian office of the Unicorn Group, a pan-African organization seeking innovative ideas.
The Nigerian News Agency reports that the seven young graduates have moored Nigeria‘s first LNG stove under the supervision of the Unicorn Group.
The young inventors are Taiwo Yussuf, Bukunola Bolajoko, Martins Omobude, Anjola Badaru, Toheeb Aleshinloye, Elijah Olasehinde, and Edidiong Udoh.
Speaking after a presentation of the stove to the minister and other guests, Bolajoko, the only woman among the seven inventors, said they took up the initial challenge of how Nigeria could best use its abundant natural gas deposit.
According to her, LNG in advanced countries is used for the generation and industrialization of electricity while it is burned or exported for processing in Africa.
Bolajoko said they were concerned about the inefficient method by which LNG, which Nigeria has in abundance, is burned or shipped abroad.
She said that of the exported LNG, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which is used at home for cooking, is exported and shipped back for sale in Nigeria at a higher cost.
The engineer said they were given the challenge of coming up with an innovative design where LNG could be used directly for cooking.
She said that after the meeting with Unicorn, it took them around five months to come up with a suitable design for the country.
Omobude, one of the inventors who explained how the stove works, said they came up with a simple design that is portable and easy to use.
He said that the stove is made up of the storage system where the LNG is stored, the regasification unit that converts the LNG into natural gas, and the burner. According to him, the stove has a special burner with a system that maximizes the heat generated.
He explained that with the stove system, a container of one liter of LNG would be equivalent to 600 liters of LPG.
Speaking about the advantages of the LNG stove over the currently available LPG in the country, Omobude said that it would be readily available at lower cost and stable price.
According to him, the stove generated by gas is less risky because it is lighter than air and in case of a leak it will dispense freely.
The young innovator said that the stove system has a lower carbon footprint with better combustion due to its purity level.
Dr. Akintoye Akindele, President of Unicorn, said they brought together young people to come up with the innovation due to the need to fix Nigeria’s gas asset and prevent flaring.
“The stove was designed at our hatchery campus here in Lagos.
“We brought together talented young engineers from all over Nigeria and they worked together for about five months on designing this.
“We gave them lodging, they receive allowances and they designed this, which is the first of its kind in the country.
“We will introduce the prototype, then patent it, make it available throughout Nigeria, and export it first to African countries and the world at large.
“This is a product that all Nigerians should be proud of and the names of the inventors will be inscribed inside the gas burners for life,” he said.
Akindele, who revealed that 85 per cent of production content was locally sourced, said it would be 100 per cent local content within a few years.
He also assured Nigerians that the stove would be launched and available on the market before the end of the year.
The minister, for his part, praised the young innovators and assured them and their sponsors of the government’s support.
He also praised Unicorn for encouraging young Nigerians to become the best innovators in the world and helping them make their dreams come true.
