By Ayodele Oni, Akure
Gradual exploration of the vast Bitumen Deposit in Ondo state has commenced with a target of about 20 tonnes monthly.
The figure is expected to rise to about 50 tonnes as the test run continues, according to officials of the exploration firm.
An indigenous company, South West Bitumen Limited (SWB), has been sadled with the responsibility, and has commenced modular exploitation of Africa’s largest bitumen deposits in the southern part of Ondo state
The firm, which has secured a 25-Year renewable Operational Mining License for the exploitation of the mineral deposit, has already delpoyed initial processing and mining equipment to the operational base which is located at Lamidifa, in Irele Local Government Area of the State.
A representative of Southwest Bitumen, Engr. Adeiya Oluwatominiyi, told Journalists at the project site that earth moving equipment like bulldozers, escavator and wheel loaders have been brought for the mining of the bitumen. He described the process as a modular one likened to a pilot one.
He disclosed that unlike the exploitation of Petroleum, the bitumen in the state is in Tar Sand which can be escavated from the top soil and taken to the yard for processing.
Oluwatominiyi explained that the processing equipment are German-made, and done with exact requirement for the exploitation of the particular type of bitumen in the state.
“We have brought the earth moving equipment like the bulldozer, escavator and the wheel loaders.
“We use bulldozer for the clearing of the identified outcrop after which we take the escavator to extract the tar sand and stockpile them in the yard for processing.
“The type of bitumen we have is tar sand. After we must have deployed the bulldozer, the escalator will load the tipper and bring it her for processing. This is where we will be doing the processing.
“This is a pilot case. It is a modular exploitation. What we have in Nigeria is tar sand bitumen. Not like in Petroleum when you are tapping from it to get bitumen. We are not getting it from the cracking of anything. What we need to do is to heat it with required technology.”
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, said the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu – administration has been pursuing the exploitation of the bitumen and the establishment of the deep sea port.
According to him, the bitumen exploitation has started taking shape with the assurance of its reality, stressing that this is the first time any government in the state will be expending resources on the exploitation.
“What they are trying to do is a pilot project. This is the first time any company will expend so much on this project. This is the first time a company will take the license and efforts and commitment would be seen unlike in the past where people take the licence and go home to sleep.
“I know with what they have done, more and more firms will be ready to invest into this. It’s not easy to deploy this kind of technology and equipment. In a matter of six, seven months, we will be getting large production of bitumen from here. ” Ojogo said.
