The Barbados National Oil Company Ltd. (BNOCL), the location for the country’s first-ever biogas pilot service station, recently hosted an update meeting with the Rum and Sargassum Inc. team and Deputy Director-General of International Partnerships at the European Commission, Myriam Ferran, and her delegation.
Rum and Sargassum Inc., the driving force behind this clean-energy initiative, is seeking to commercially harness locally sourced organic inputs, including rum industry wastewater, Sargassum seaweed, and Barbados Blackbelly sheep manure, to produce affordable and fossil-fuel-free renewable compressed natural gas.
CEO and Founder of Rum and Sargassum Inc., Dr. Legena Henry, emphasised the significance of leveraging Sargassum-based biogas as a clean and renewable energy source.
“This move represents a substantial step toward reducing dependence on fossil fuels and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with Barbados’ commitment to a sustainable future,” she said.
Rum and Sargassum Inc. aims to provide inexpensive transportation fuel for 60 per cent of the country’s road traffic, addressing the challenge of high prices for imported fossil fuels. The ultimate goal is to achieve a 100 per cent fossil-fuel-free Barbados, ensuring long-term energy security for the nation.
The operations of the Woodbourne/BNOCL-based pilot biogas service station will serve as a tangible demonstration of the viability and scalability of biogas as a sustainable energy solution.
From all reports, the investors are happy with the progress of the project and BNOCL is excited to be a part of this energy efficient initiative to assist in propelling Barbados closer to meeting global environmental targets.