RMRDC UPGRADES TECHNOLOGY FOR SALT PROCESSING: CALLS FOR COOPERATION ON PROLIFERATION

Set to improve upon the age old indigenous method of salt production and other local technology processes still being utilized in the country for raw materials processing, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), in collaboration with the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, has recently developed a modern local salt production technology. Designed to reduce drudgery of production, increase quantity and improve quality of locally produced salt, the new technology features the use of a thin-layer evaporator, an open pan evaporator (crystallization pan) and a Solar dryer to process brine for its production processes.

Chairman of the RMRDC Governing Board, Barr. Peter Nwaoboshi who spoke at the Stakeholders forum and Public Presentation ceremony of Salt Processing Equipment, at the premises of the Polytechnic, said the Council had embarked on the project because of the enormous industrial potentials of salt to the nation’s economy.

The RMRDC Chairman also called on the private sector and other relevant stakeholders to collaborate with the Council in establishing small scale salt producing centers in salt producing communities so as to alleviate rural poverty and empower the communities economically.

Rector of the Polytechnic, Pius Otaru Salami, lauded the collaboration between the Council, the Polytechnic and the industrial sector noting that the project was good as it was targeted at the solid minerals industrial sector.

The efficiency of the plant was tested with brine collected from local sources in Keana and Bunza local Government Areas of Nasarawa and Kebbi states. Salt deposits are also known to occur in large quantities in Ebonyi state were the Council already has functional salt processing project established in partnership with the State Government.