29/12/2008 (Business Day Online) - The only solution to the present economic problem in Nigeria is by way of encouraging production. With increased production, prices of goods and services will be brought down, there will be more employment for the people both at the rural and urban centres, industries will operate at near full capacity, and there will be products for export market. What follows is increase in foreign earning capacity and also less dependence on foreign goods. Palm kernel oil production is one of such investments that will definitely boost Nigeria’s production.

Benefits
Palm kernel oil crushing is a viable investment because raw materials can be sourced at ease, the production technology is simple and feasible, and the market for end products is automatic. Establishment of the plant will have a direct impact on the development of the rural sector. This can be argued on the premise that farm products, that is, fresh fruit bunches of palm kernel and the likes will be in high demand. This will encourage the farmers to produce more and at the end of the day boost farm activities and incomes.

Increased income of rural dwellers is seeing as another way of achieving rural development. It will definitely encourage people to establish oil palm plantation. The long-term effect will be increased Gross National product. Today, Malaysia that came to take oil palm seedlings from Nigeria is the largest producer of palm oil in the world.

The project will no doubt improve the standard of living of the promoters. This is because it is highly profitable. The project is highly reliable especially for investors residing in the southern part of Nigeria including Kogi and Kwara States . It is a better alternative to chasing local purchase orders (LPOS) or contracts about because daily income generation is guaranteed. Palm oil and palm kernel oil extraction technology is simple, hence the ease of establishment, management and maintenance.

Palm Oil and Palm kernel oil are in high demand by soap makers, vegetable oil refiners and paints industry and individual consumers. The cake from palm kernel oil is demanded by feed millers and by exporters. You can also export the products out of the country.

Investors can also export directly. In fact, an established factory will always have customers depositing in advance of production.

Production technology Palm Kernel crushing involves feeding of the machine through the hopper with already sorted and dried palm kernel. The already fed palm kernel will later undergo the process of crushing in which the oil will come out from one end, and the cake from another end. The oil collected will be filtered and kept in storage tank ready for sale while the cake will be packaged and bagged ready for sale to feed millers and exports.

Palm Oil Production involves procurement of fresh fruit bunches from oil palm plantation. Palm nuts are removed from the ffb. They are taken to the boiler and boiled fro about 1-1½ hour. After which they are put in the digester. The digested product is put in the separator to separate the oil from the shaft and Palm Kernel nut. The Oil obtained is mixed with water and put in the clarifier where the finished product (Palm Oil is collected). Palm Kernel nut is also separated kept and later cracked. The nut obtained is what is used fro palm kernel oil production. The shaft of palm kernel can also be used as source of energy and also to feed pigs.

Palm oil production process

Fresh fruit bunches are delivered at the factory. The fruits are removed and placed in the boiler. The fruits are boiled in the boiler for about 2 hours. Boiled fruits are transferred to the digester.

The digested oil is transferred to the clarifier.