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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC, in partnership with NIPCO Gas Limited, on Thursday, commissioned 12 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations in the country.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, commissioned the stations in Abuja and Lagos State. Nigerian Tribune reports that the stations commissioned in Abuja are located at Airport Road, Kubwa, Gaduwa, Olusegun Obasanjo way zone 1, Dei-Dei junction, Duste-Bwari road and Gwagwalada while the stations are located at Lateef Jakande, Agidingbi, Agege Motor Road, Mushin, Lekki-Epe expressway, Sangotedo, Eti-Osa LGA and Mobile Road, Apapa.
The minister while commissioning the stations in Abuja said the stations have shown the resolve of the Federal Government’s zeal to drive the CNG project to ensure gas prosperity.
“Today is a great day in the history of Nigeria. And today is the second commissioning, after the one that I did in Lagos. It is going to be done simultaneously in twelve other stations within Nigeria and Lagos.
“We demonstrate the willingness, and determination of the Federal Government to drive the CNG project. And of course, as the president said the gas for Prosperity renewable program is in progress.
“I commend the NNPC for living up to the mandate of their establishment to work through and make sure CNG is available for Nigerians. It is irreversible. We are talking about CNG. We are going into CNG. Are you sure we will be able to sustain it?
“From the daily production in the country currently, we are only using three per cent. That goes a long way to tell you that irrespective of the demand, we will meet the target, and of course, the NNPC Ltd and other investors are not relenting in making sure that they go into a new development of gas,” the minister said.
The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Mele Kyari, said the CNG was supplied to stations in Abuja and Lagos through virtual transportation from parent stations in Ajaokuta, Kogi State and in Ibafo, a town in Ogun State.
“The stations’ power needs are met by gas-driven generators, reducing carbon emissions. The CNG station on Airport Road, Abuja includes a five-bay CNG vehicle conversion workshop capable of converting five to six vehicles daily.”
“I want to thank Mr President for giving us the push that this is possible and we are seeing it happen. It is being rolled out across the country and we are seeing the benefits. People are happy, it is a cleaner and cheaper fuel and it is accessible.
“What we are going to do is to roll out stations all across the Federation, it is already a work in progress to construct six CNG model stations across the country between now and December. More CNG stations are under construction by NNPC Gas Marketing Ltd (NGML) and NIPCO Gas JV under presidential directives coming soon.
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“There is simply no way to turn back on delivering CNG for all Nigerians. It is the right thing to do. Is it late? Yes, but we will make progress, we will cover the gap in order to ensure that the volatility we see with Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) does not apply to gas,” Kyari stated.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Managing Director, NNPC Retail Limited, Mr. Huub Stokman, revealed that in the next one year, NNPC Retail would have launched over 100 CNG sites, including 16 NNPC Gas Marketing and NIPCO Gas JV sites.
“CNG provides Nigeria with affordable alternatives to existing available fuel products. It will be about 40% cheaper than petrol in Nigeria and with continued investments, it will become a significant part of our energy mix,” Stokman stated.
The chairman of the NNPC Board of Directors, Chief Pius Akinyelure, said increased CNG adoption will foster economic benefits by reducing fuel costs for consumers and businesses alike.
Following the removal of fuel subsidy and the declaration of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiatives, NNPC Limited has taken the lead in the deployment of Auto-CNG Stations across Nigeria.
