… commits to establishing over 100 new CNG stations in 2025, including 16 through JV with NIPCO
… plans to build three LNG stations
Oredola Adeola
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has accelerated its nationwide deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations by simultaneously commissioning 12 new sites in Abuja and Lagos and committing to launch over 100 additional sites, including 16 joint ventures with NNPC Gas Marketing and NIPCO Gas, within 2025.
The 12 CNG Stations were simultaneously commissioned in Lagos and Abuja, on Thursday by Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), and witnessed by Chief Pius Akinyelure, Board Chairman, NNPC Ltd, Mallam Mele Kyari, GCEO NNPC Ltd, Chairmen of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Gas and Petroleum Downstream; other NNPC Senior NNPC Management and several other dignitaries.
Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo said the commissioning of the stations will not only provide economic benefits by creating jobs and stimulating local economies, but it will also contribute significantly to Nigeria’s national goals of reducing emissions and combating climate change.
Chief Pius Akinyelure, Chairman of the NNPC Board of Directors, on his part, said increased CNG adoption will foster economic benefits by reducing fuel costs for consumers and businesses alike.
Mallam Mele Kyari, The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, in his comment during the simultaneous commissioning of 12 CNG stations, declared that the drive to bring Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) closer to Nigerians has since commenced and is irreversible.
Kyari, said in addition to the massive deployment of CNG stations nationwide, the NNPC Ltd and its partners would also build three Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) stations in Ajaokuta.
“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.
The GCEO commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the needed support to drive domestic gas utilisation aimed at delivering cleaner and cheaper source of energy to Nigerians.
While assuring that the NNPC Ltd will continue to deliver more strategic gas projects for the benefit of Nigerians in line with the Presidential CNG Initiative of bringing prosperity to all Nigerians, Kyari reaffirmed the determination of the NNPC to guarantee the nation’s energy security.
Mr. Huub Stokman, Managing Director, NNPC Retail Limited, 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 added.
Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer NNPC Ltd, in a statement on the sideline of the commissioning, stated that 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.
According to him, at the moment, NNPC Gas Marketing Limited, a subsidiary of NNPC Limited, in partnership with NIPCO Gas Limited has developed an Auto-CNG rollout plan for the construction of thirty-five (35) CNG stations across the various geographical zones of Nigeria.
