CNG: Federal Govt, Private Sector Partnering To Subsidise Conversion Of Vehicles – Stakeholder

The private sector is partnering with the Presidential CNG Initiative (Pi-CNG) to ensure subsidized conversion of vehicles from PMS to CNG, the Chief Officer of Portland Gas Limited, Mr. Folajimi Mohammed has said.

Mohammed stated this at the inauguration of All-One Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Reverse-Engineering, Training, Filling and Conversation Centre established by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in conjunction with Portland Gas Limited in Abuja.

“One of the President’s first initiatives was the  Initiative (Pi-CNG), which was the initiative to introduce the Compressed Natural Gas. So Portland Gas-NASENI has been working in partnership with the Pi-CNG. They will be tasked with introducing and supplying the conversion kits and we are hopeful that the conversion kits will be supplied to us using a subsidized price while we make sure that it’s available and cheap for every average Nigerian.

“The immediate intervention we need right now is for us the private sector to partner with the government in terms of subsidized kits that will be given to us,” he said.

Mohammed expressed optimism that with the take off of the reverse engineering plant in partnership with NASENI, conversion kits would be manufactured locally, which would significantly reduce the impact of the cost of conversion on Nigerians.

He noted that CNG offers a sustainable and economically viable alternative to traditional petroleum products, with the potential to bring transformative changes to the country.

“On average, a petrol vehicle consumes about 60 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to travel 250 kilometers, costing approximately 37,020 NGN, given current fuel prices. In contrast, a CNG vehicle requires about 18 standard cubic meters (scm) of gas for the same distance, costing around 3,600 NGN.

“For a 250 km drive, this translates to a significant cost saving, highlighting the economic benefits of CNG over PMS. CNG and hybrid vehicles offer better efficiency and lower emissions and by embracing CNG, we not only reduce our transportation costs but also contribute to a cleaner environment.”

Mohammed commended President Tinubu for recently commissioning three new upstream gas facilities which he said would significantly boost the nation’s gas production capabilities and provide the foundation for expanding CNG infrastructure.

He said Portland is also collaborating with KIA Motors to promote the adoption of CNG vehicles in Nigeria by developing and distributing CNG hybrid models. Additionally, he said, to retrofit hybrid CNG vehicles right from the assembling point and push those advanced vehicles into the market.

“This initiative will ensure that Nigerians have access to affordable, efficient, and environmentally friendly transportation options making it easier for Nigerians to transition to this cleaner energy alternative.”