Participants at the three day workshop on PCB Elimination in Calabar
FG bans use of polychlorinated biphenyls oil by DisCos
[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]
Federal Government has outlawed the use of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) oil by Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) in the country.
Also known as transformer oil or insulating oil, PCBs is an oil that is stable at high temperatures and has excellent electrical insulating components.
Professor Babajide Aloh, consultant to the Federal Ministry of Environment on PCB elimination disclosed this in Calabar during a workshop on PCB elimination.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) has been used as transformer oils as far back as 1946 and also general other areas of human enterprise which for a long time was a cooling unit for electricity generating transformers.
He said the oils had since been phased out through the Stockholm Convention but is still being used in the country despite its adverse effect.
He regretted that the oil is gradually getting into the food systems in the country particularly in frying foods like akara (a local stable).
This he said is highly risky to the health of Nigerians and the federal government has taken it seriously by gazetting a set of regulations to eliminate PCB use.
“The world found out these oils are very toxic and decided through the Stockholm Convention to eliminate PCBs in the world.
“The oils have found their way into our food systems and the federal government took it seriously and gazetted a set of regulations to eliminate PCBs in Nigeria.
“PCB oils have now been banned and anybody found using it will suffer a penalty.
“Compliance will start after the regulations have been published.
“It has now been gazetted and the federal ministry of health is taking steps to ensure everyone is aware of it”, he said.
He stressed that PCB oils are not produced in Nigeria, every single drop is imported and control will start at the ports.
He assured that electricity will not go off due to the bank on use of PCB oils explaining that alternatives abound.
