The World Bank has donated a generating plant and a standard laboratory to the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Zaria, Kaduna State, to boost the institute's bio-diesel and renewable fuel research programmes.

Bio-diesel, which is usually made from vegetable oils, animal fats or recycled greases, can be used as fuel for vehicles or generating plants in its pure form.

It is normally used as a diesel additive to reduce levels of particles, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons from diesel-powered vehicles.

The Director General of NARICT, Dr Emmanuel Okwokwo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday that the Institute had recorded a breakthrough in its bio-diesel research programmes.

"We have successfully developed the bio-diesel technology using Jatropha, rubber seed, neem seed or any form of vegetable oil as main raw materials for production.

"We have also made some impact such that the World Bank has even come to recognise what we are doing like the bio-diesel programme. They donated a generating plant which we are using to test the oil (raw materials).

"The Bank also sponsored the establishment of a standard laboratory for the production of school chemicals for secondary schools and tertiary institutions," he said.