Firm Installs Treatment Facility To Reduce Benue River Contamination

Pure Biotech Company Limited, an ethanol-producing company, has installed a treatment facility to stop the recurrence of wastewater contamination of the Benue River. 

Last month, there was an accidental discharge of untreated effluent with sludge from the facility into the Benue River in Bezu Village (host community). The sludge from a by-product (bio-gas) was allowed to move into a ‘Saver Pit’ which got filled-up when the engineers had shutdown operations, due to the fact that the factory was sealed for about two weeks by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), from 17th April to 29th April, 2023. The sludge spilled down the drains into the river without pre-treatment.

The company’s corporate communications and public relations manager, Mr Stephen Numbeve, at a press briefing in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, said after untreated effluent (wastewater) was accidentally dumped into the Benue River, the organisation took this significant step.

Numbeve said the organisation resolved to optimise its Environmental Management System (EMS) by completing its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, this is even as he disclosed that it has been approved and 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 meet standards and regulations of relevant bodies.

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“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 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 added.

The public relations officer averred that Pure Biotech Company Limited is a law abiding company and would continually improve on its systems and programmes toward protecting the environment and human health.

“Pure Biotech Company Limited has invested a fortune to optimize her waste management mechanisms. Our vision is to become a leading environment-friendly company in Benue State and the North Central Nigeria. Pure Biotech Company Limited, beside the incident, is not discharging any effluent into the environment, river or any water body whatsoever,” he reiterated.

Numbeve however disclosed that the company was embarking on several Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes such as the provision of clean water, education, healthcare, farm support, and employment opportunities for the indigenes.