Sealed Benue ethanol coy installs treatment plant to curb pollution

An ethanol-producing company, Pure Biotech Company Limited, has installed a state-of-theart Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP), to prevent the reoccurrence of wastewater contamination in the Benue River.

Mr Stephen Numbeve, Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Relations of the company, said the company took this step following the accidental discharge of untreated effluent (wastewater) into the Benue River.

The accidental discharge of untreated effluent with sludge into the river in Bezu Village, where the factory is located, led to severe pollution.

Environmental rights groups and other stakeholders made calls to shut down the Chinese factory, following public outrage.

This was done by a team from the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), security agencies, and the state government.

Reacting, Numbeve said the organisation resolved to optimise its Environmental Management System (EMS) by completing its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process.

This, he said, has been approved and is awaiting EIS certification by the Federal Ministry of Environment.

He said the company had equipped its laboratory to ensure that product, effluent and air quality analysis were carried out to ensure that all parameters met the standards and regulations of relevant bodies.

“We are adopting circular economy approach to waste management. Now, all solid and liquid wastes are converted into bio-gas, fertiliser, and even the treated wastewater now is being recycled.

“Nothing is to be discharged into the environment or river, anymore. We encourage the general public to take a tour to the company and see things for yourselves.”

He said Pure Biotech Company Limited was lawabiding and would continually improve on its systems and programmes towards protecting the environment and human health.