By: Business day

Agricon West Africa Limited Pioneers Gas-Powered Rice Processing in Nigeria

Agricon West Africa Limited is transforming agricultural processing in Nigeria by adopting gas-powered energy to drive its rice production operations, overcoming the challenges of unstable grid electricity that often hinders the sector.

Energy Transformation Journey

Established in 2022 with a 240-ton-per-day parboiling capacity, Agricon initially faced significant energy challenges. According to Plant Manager Emmanuel Njin, diesel generators created "a huge financial burden, responsible for a larger running cost with less output."

The company's solution was a strategic shift to a 1.5MW Jenbacher plant powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), which delivered substantial benefits:

• 60-65% reduction in energy costs
• 50% decrease in fuel consumption compared to diesel
• More reliable performance for continuous operations
• Reduced carbon footprint through cleaner emissions

Partnership and Implementation

Agricon partnered with Clarke Energy, the authorized distributor of Jenbacher gas engines in Nigeria, which provided comprehensive services including:

• Front-end engineering design (FEED)
• Commissioning
• Ongoing maintenance support

Yiannis Tsantilas, Managing Director of Clarke Energy in Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasized the importance of reliable energy for food security: "We believe that resilience in Nigeria's production processes must include access to reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy alternatives, which is the bedrock to building a sustainable economy."

Broader Implications for Nigerian Industry

Agricon's successful energy transition demonstrates:

• The viability of gas as a transition fuel for Nigerian industries
• How businesses can achieve operational stability despite grid challenges
• The economic and environmental benefits of switching from diesel to CNG
• A template for other agricultural processors facing similar energy constraints

The company's investment in gas-powered infrastructure has transformed energy from a "stumbling block to a foundation for growth," positioning Agricon to scale production, reach new markets, and contribute to Nigeria's food self-sufficiency goals while promoting sustainable industrial practices.