RMRDC RECORDS SUCCESS WITH LOCAL PRODUCTION OF WELDING ELECTRODE, LOOKS TO PRIVATE SECTOR FOR PROJECT COMMERCIALIZATION

The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), has made some success towards local manufacturing of Welding Electrode production project through a collaborative venture between it and an indigenous firm, Betta Products Ltd. The project aims to produce high grade welding electrodes utilizing 90% local materials of the nations abundant deposit of required raw materials such as Sawdust, Iron Ore, Aluminum Oxide, “Ikorodu Yellow”, Feldspar, Sodium Silicate, Quartz, Calcium Oxide, among others located in different parts of Western Zone of the Country. It is furthermore targeted towards assuaging the huge demand for electrodes by the nations welding industry.  

The project is identifiably crucial to the industrial and socio economic development of the country as it would among other things reduce the importation of electrodes into the country; cut cost of electrodes made from imported raw materials, while guaranteeing quality of the product; increase engineering capacity for local manufacture and standardization; create employment at the grass roots level; and increase foreign exchange earnings for the country through exportation of the product to other countries. 

While receiving a team from Betta Products Ltd., in his office recently, the Director General of the Council, Engr. (Prof) Peter Onwualu was happy to note that the project which was began by the Council eight years ago is about ready for commercialization.  He equally expressed confidence with the economic viability of the project even as he noted that there was a high demand for welding electrode in Nigeria by the Gas refineries, Fabricators of machines, welders, panel beater, leather, shoe industry, offshore and sea shore welding. 

The DG also noted that welding electrode, apart from having wider local market, possessed greater export potentials in the West African Sub- Region He said that there were no local electrode manufacturings companies using local raw materials. Electrode Nigeria Limited and Electrolux Nig. Ltd currently assemble electrode from imported raw materials, and was unable to meet its local demand. Given that Nigeria had abundant deposit of most needed raw materials for the production, particularly in the South West part of the Country, Professor Onwualu was optimistic that the project would help to mobilize the creativity of Nigerian scientists with a view to harnessing to a maximum, the natural resources, and engendering quantum technological development in the country.  

Having funded this R&D, including conducting mandatory basic tests and analysis of the product, the DG says the Council is willing to perfect the product of the R&D even as he called on willing investors, the private sector, technical and financial partners towards perfecting the  products and ensuring its availability to the end-users in Nigeria and West Africa.

                                                                                                                                           Chuks Ngaha