Nigerian PhD researcher Maimuna Umar Zarewa has emerged winner of the internationally acclaimed Carbon Neutrality Cup after unveiling an AI-powered robotic corrosion detection system designed to protect oil and energy infrastructure.
The competition, organised by the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA), was held at the Sheraton Hotel in Manama and drew participants from across the Gulf region, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The event spotlighted breakthrough technologies advancing climate sustainability and industrial efficiency.
Zarewa, who is pursuing her doctoral studies at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in Saudi Arabia, developed a fully autonomous corrosion sensing device that integrates chemical detection, robotic automation and artificial intelligence-driven data analysis into a single hybrid platform.
Her system departs from traditional corrosion monitoring techniques, which typically involve multiple instruments and labor-intensive processes. Instead, it uses a fluorescence sensor engineered from petroleum waste, enabling early, real-time corrosion detection while reducing operational costs and human input.
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By transforming petroleum waste into a valuable sensing material, the innovation supports circular economy practices and strengthens environmental responsibility within the energy sector.
Further findings revealed that the sensor material also has corrosion-inhibiting properties. Zarewa is now advancing a second-generation prototype equipped with an integrated inhibitor system that automatically releases protective agents once corrosion is detected, turning the technology into a self-activating protection unit.
Industry experts note that corrosion-related failures cost the global oil and gas industry billions of dollars annually. Zarewa’s invention could therefore play a critical role in improving infrastructure resilience and reducing environmental risks.
Her achievement marks another milestone for Nigerian representation in global scientific research and underscores the growing impact of youth-led innovation in tackling energy and climate challenges.
