Agricon West Africa Limited has cut ties with the unreliable national grid and diesel generators, transitioning to a 1.5-megawatt gas-powered system to sustain its rice processing operations.

The company said the move to compressed natural gas (CNG) is part of efforts to lower operating costs, improve productivity, and contribute to Nigeria’s food security goals.

Founded in 2022, Agricon entered the local rice value chain with a plan to process Nigerian-grown rice at scale but struggled with unstable electricity and the high cost of diesel.

Plant Manager, Emmanuel Njin, said the installation of the gas-powered generator—supplied and serviced by Clarke Energy, official distributor of Jenbacher engines in Nigeria—has significantly improved efficiency and cut fuel expenses.

“Our energy costs have dropped by up to 65 percent since the switch to gas, and production is now stable. We no longer experience power disruptions that used to affect our output,” Njin explained.

Managing Director of Clarke Energy for Sub-Saharan Africa, Yiannis Tsantilas, hailed Agricon’s decision as a model for sustainable energy use, noting that reliable, cleaner power is key to boosting Nigeria’s food and energy security.

He commended Agricon for investing in long-term sustainability and said gas-powered solutions are vital for reducing reliance on diesel and driving industrial growth.

With the new plant in place, Agricon says it can now focus on expanding rice production, improving competitiveness, and reaching more markets—powered by steady, environmentally friendly energy.