As part of the search for cleaner and cheaper fuel following the removal of fuel subsidy, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has unveiled plans to roll out Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) filling stations across the country.
The petroleum company, as gathered by OsunDailyNG, has partnered with NIPCO Gas Limited to construct the CNG stations to be ready in the first quarter of 2024.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Garba Deen Muhammad, the company targets the construction of 35 states of the CNG station across the federation with three mother stations.
The NNPCL noted that the initiative would not only provide cheaper alternative fuel but would serve about 200,000 Nigerians daily when completed.
โThis landmark collaboration aims to expand our CNG infrastructure, improve access to CNG, and accelerate the adoption of cheaper and cleaner alternative fuel for buses, cars, and Keke NAPEP, which will significantly reduce the cost of transportation and engender sustainable national economic growth.
โUnder the NNPC-NIPCO strategic partnership, 35 state-of-the-art CNG stations will be constructed nationwide, including three (3) Mother stations.
โOnce fully operational, the stations can service over 200,000 vehicles daily, thereby significantly reducing the cost of automobile fuel for Nigerians and the cost of transportation.
โThe project will be rolled out in phases. The first phase, comprising 21 CNG stations, will support intra-city transportation and be ready by the first quarter of 2024; While the second phase, comprising 35 CNG stations, will support inter-city transformation and will be ready by late 2024. This will be further complemented by an additional 56 stations to be deployed by NNPC Retail across the country.
โNIPCO Gas Limited is currently operating 14 CNG stations across Nigeria and has converted over 7,000 vehicles to run on CNG. NIPCOโs technical competency and field experience will bolster this initiativeโs success and amplify its positive impact on the Nationโs economy.
โThis initiative will leverage Nigeriaโs abundant natural gas resources to bring multiple benefits to Nigerians, including access to cheaper fuel, reduced cost of transportation, reduced carbon emissions, create new business value chains and streams of job opportunities.
โNNPC Limited expects further private sector participation by oil marketing companies to broaden CNG penetration and availability.
โNNPC Limited remains committed to reliably delivering energy while continuously creating value for Nigeriaโs prosperous future alongside our partners,โ the petroleum company submitted.