NNPCL, Nipco begin autogas stations deployment

On Thursday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited announced a partnership with Nipco Gas Limited to build and install compressed natural gas stations around the nation.

Another fuel that can be used in vehicles is compressed natural gas, or CNG, often known as autogas. Since the termination of subsidies for Premium Motor Spirit, or petrol, there has been a strong push for CNG adoption.

The President, Bola Tinubu, instructed the oil company to explore alternate fuel sources to mitigate the effects of the elimination of the PMS subsidy, according to Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, who was speaking at the national oil company’s headquarters in Abuja.

“As part of NNPCL’s commitment to decreasing carbon footprint and offering motorists with a less expensive alternative fuel, the firm is glad to announce a strategic cooperation with Nipco Gas Limited to establish Compressed Natural Gas stations,” said Kyari.

“This endeavour is in addition to the 56 CNG stations that NNPC Retail has planned for a staggered deployment across the nation.

This historic partnership aims to increase access to CNG, expand our CNG infrastructure, and speed up the use of less expensive, cleaner alternative fuel in cars, buses, and Keke NAPEP, which will lower transportation costs significantly and promote sustainable national economic growth.

He said that 35 cutting-edge CNG stations, including three mother stations, would be built nationally as part of the NNPC-Nipco strategic cooperation.

“Once fully operational, the stations can service over 200,000 vehicles daily, considerably lowering carbon emissions and their accompanying impact on the planet,” he claims.

Phased implementation of the project is planned. The second phase, which consists of 35 CNG stations, will assist intercity transformation and be ready by the first quarter of 2025. The first phase, which consists of 21 CNG stations, will support intra-city travel and be available by the first quarter of 2024.

He pointed out that in order to strengthen and support the programme, the NNPCL had formed NNPC Prime LNG Limited for domestic LNG production and delivery.

According to Kyari, “NNPC is also cooperating with Miju Auto Gas, a renowned Original Equipment Manufacturer of CNG kits located in India, to establish training and conversion centres to facilitate in-country conversion of vehicles from petrol to CNG.

Over 7,000 vehicles have been converted to run on CNG by Nipco Gas Limited, which now runs 14 CNG stations in Nigeria. The success of this project and its good effects on the country’s economy will be bolstered by Nipco’s technical proficiency and practical experience.

This innovative project would take advantage of Nigeria’s plentiful natural gas resources to provide the country’s citizens with a number of advantages, including access to cheaper fuel, lower transportation costs, lower carbon emissions, the development of new value chains for businesses, and new avenues for employment.

Assuring the safety of using gas in cars, Nipco Gas Limited’s managing director, Nagendra Verma, further pledged that his company will collaborate with the NNPCL to complete the project.