Emmanuel Oduara
A new facility has been commissioned in Abuja for the production of Amal Aerio gas leak detection devices and printed circuit boards, developed by Amal Technologies with the support of the Nigerian Content Development and Management Board(NCDMB), to detect the presence of carbon monoxide, methane, and hydrogen sulfide, ensuring safety in various industries such as mining, oil and gas, and manufacturing, with the support of the Federal Government and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The commissioning was performed on Thursday by Mr. Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals, Mr. Ayodele Olawande, the Minister of State for Youth Development, and Engr. Omatsola Ogbe, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Management Board (NCDMB).
The Amal Tech facility is equipped with Printed Circuit Boards and Assembly (PCBA) equipment, R&D equipment, as well as a high-capacity Surface-Mount Technology (SMT) assembly line, a calibrator, and an Injection Mold machine.
EnergyDay gathered that the gas leak detection device utilizing the Internet of Things (IoT) technology was developed to protect human lives, property, and the environment from the dangers of gas leaks and explosions.
The Amal technology is a homegrown innovation that has secured two patents in three years and is guaranteed to be made available to Nigerians and exported.
Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, represented by Engr. Kamoru Busari, Director Upstream, in his remark, hailed the commissioning as a monumental step in fostering a research culture and nurturing innovation-driven startups.
Shehu Abdullahi, CEO/Founder of Amal Technologies Limited, in his remark, stated that the facility took over five years to come to fruition and that the cutting-edge Amal Technologies had in three years, secured two patents and disrupted traditional approaches to research and development.
Abdullahi said that the facility sources its materials locally, ensuring affordability and sustainability, which according to him was a testament to the company’s commitment to innovation and local content, with prices starting as low as N5000 per unit.
“Amal Aerio is made up of three different technologies including Wifi, all embedded in one it is quite affordable it has been an exciting journey.
He also praised the partnership with NCDMB, which has an equity share in the investment, and urged the government to continue creating an environment for businesses to thrive in Nigeria.
“The NCDMB is not about having connections or knowing someone at the top. It is about a team of people who are dedicated to the success and progress of local content in Nigeria. Their firmness and dedication to local content continue to give me hope for the country of Nigeria,” Abdullahi said.
He further expressed the hope that with the full support of NCDMB, the company would make lasting contributions to various sectors of the economy, including oil and gas, power, agriculture, and beyond.
Abdullahi said, “While data on gas explosions in Nigeria is sketchy, the country has witnessed its fair share of these incidents. Whether it is one explosion or 100, the aftermath is usually gory and heartbreaking.
“With an estimated four million cylinders and counting in homes across the country, the discovery of Amal Arelo through extensive research and development initiative as a unique solution to preventing gas explosion, is a joyous thing to behold.
“For those deeply concerned about the safety of using cooking gas, Amal Aerio, whose development received extensive support from the NCDMB, provides hope of putting these unfortunate, tragic incidents behind.
“The smart gas leak and smoke detection alarm give an early signal of a gas leak and smoke. This life-saving device helps to identify the sources of the leak, thereby giving people the opportunity to address and protect their family, ” the founder of Amal Technologies Limited said.
Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in his keynote address, at the Commissioning of the facility stated that the smart gas leak detector research was just a proposal submitted to the Board in 2018. He stated that “the idea was nurtured through the NCDMB incubation process hosted in the Board’s Technology Innovation and Incubation Center (TIIC).
He affirmed that “the recurring menace of gas leaks and explosions leading to heavy losses in human lives, property damage, and pollution of the environment is the problem statement that the device seeks to address.”
Alh. Abdulmalik Halilu, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation at NCDMB, in his comment, stated that the Amal Smart Gas Leak Detector incubation process is an offshoot of NCDMB’s Technology Innovation and Incubation Center.
According to the innovative approach aims to address the ongoing issue of gas leaks and explosions, which have caused significant loss of life, property damage, and environmental pollution.
