The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has said that the rollout of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) will be ready by the first quarter of 2024.
He made this known in a video statement shared by NNPCL wherein he elaborated on facts Nigerians need to know concerning the company’s recent agreement with NIPCO Plc.
According to him, the agreement involves the development of CNG infrastructure and ensuring delivery to Nigerians as an alternative fuel for vehicles after the fuel subsidy removal increased the prices of fuel in the country
Kyari said the CNG rollout will be in phases and that the first phase will comprise 21 CNG stations which will support intra-city transportation and will be ready by the first quarter of 2024.
The second phase, the NNPCL boss said would comprise 35 CNG stations for support of intercity transportation will also be ready in 2024.
“This will be further complemented by the additional 56 stations to be deployed by NNPC Retail stations across the country. Nipco Gas is currently operating 14 CNG stations across Nigeria and has converted over 7,000 vehicles to run on CNG.
“Nipco’s technical competence and field experience will bolster this initiative’s success and amplify its positive impact on the nation’s economy,” he stated.
He pointed out that the initiative would liberate Nigeria’s abundant gas resources to bring multiple benefits to Nigerians including access to cheaper fuel, reduced cost of transportation, reduced carbon emissions, and create new businesses and job opportunities.
Kyari assured that CNG is safe to use for cars.
“CNG is even safer than petrol. I am sure we will continue to engage the public on the safety of these cylinders so that institutions will allow vehicles carrying these cylinders in their boots to have access, we do not see any problem with this,” he stated.
Kyari further highlighted the fact that CNG-based transportation has been done in other countries, noting that almost every tricycle (keke napep) in India makes use of CNG.
He also mentioned Pakistan, and Indonesia as examples. However, he said that CNG use has not substantially developed in Africa for economic reasons.
