#nikua
Nikua IS Today
BioFuels
Sustainable Resources
That Create Power
Development
Manufacturing Solutions
That Help Communities Thrive
People
Isolated Communities Gain
Economic & Energy Independence
Our Mission
Nikua Training Center USA is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the benefit of isolated communities in need of economic development and energy independence.
Nikua leverages our engineering experience by providing a menu of site-specific solutions which are vertically integrated and economically proven. Equipment and training are provided to support production of low carbon international quality standard biofuels, renewable energy, food, and water treatment. Solutions provided by Nikua are grounded in sustainable agriculture and income-generating agricultural products.
Nikua will provide long-term local support in chemical process engineering, marketing, and business management.
Nikua will hand-off ownership of village-scale biofuel manufacturing plants to villages and islands across Oceania and the Asia-Pacific region.
Training will be provided in business practices that fit to the culture of isolated communities.
Nikua will encourage women’s groups to manage business units.
Board Advisors
Daniel Shafer
Co-Director
Daniel serves as Engineering Committee Leader, and a Policy and Governance Committee member. Daniel has several years of experience as an adviser to government and power generation utilities, multi-national aid agencies, and international development banks serving the South Pacific region. Daniel has experience in biodiesel production as a consultant, technology developer, equipment supplier, and founder and CEO of Beaver Biodiesel in Oregon. Daniel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Oregon State University in Corvallis Oregon USA.
Michael Amir Razmi, PE
Amir is a licensed professional engineer in the state of California with extensive experience as lead chemical process engineer on Engineering, Procurement, and Construction - EPC projects in petrochemical, oil and gas refineries, including the largest gas treatment plant in the Middle East.
He is currently working with Southern California Gas Company on cutting edge technologies for renewable Hydrogen production. He leads the chemical process design effort for startup companies working on Carbon Capture and Biofuel production.
Amir serves on the Engineering Committee for Nikua Training Center and as Vice-Chair of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers – AIChE local section. Amir has earned BS and MSc degrees in chemical engineering.
List of publications and LinkedIn profile:
Jeff Rola
Chief Financial Officer
Jeff Rola is the founder of Go Bio. For the past ten years he has collected Used Cooking Oil (UCO) from hundreds of restaurants to make low-carbon bio-diesel fuel. He recently sold the cooking oil business after collecting the feedstock for nearly one million gallons of bio-diesel. In 2018 Go Bio was repurposed to supply biofuels directly to customers through the use of smart phone technology Go Bio Community Fuels.
Jeff moved to Central Oregon more than 30 years ago with his wife Susan. He has broad experience in media, journalism, marketing, public relations, non-profit development and management, community action, and natural resources conservation. He has worked in the private and public sectors as well as owned his own businesses.
Jeff also serves his community through service on the boards of 350 Deschutes, the Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District, and recently as the Chief Financial Officer of the Nikua Training Center. Jeff seeks and prefers work that sustains, conserves, and enhances our quality of life. That was his motivation behind the founding of Go Bio.
Taniela Tabuya
Co-Director
Taniela Tabuya serves as Energy Officer (Fiji) for the Global Green Growth Institute based in Seoul, Republic of (South) Korea. Taniela's professional strengths include research, project development, Review of Policy & implementation, Standards, and management.
In working for the Department of Energy Taniela has expanded his knowledge in mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering. Taniela has the experience needed to rapidly identify the drivers and opportunities for the development of renewable energy projects, water projects, and environment impact assessments.
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