Govt commissions CNG plant in Lagos

• NNPC plans six more gas stations nationwide
• LASG to deploy 2,000 CNG buses by year-end

The Federal Government has commissioned a new 5.2 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) plant in Lagos to mitigate the impact of the fuel subsidy removal and a more sustainable energy future for the nation.

The NNPC CNG Station in Ilasamaja will serve vehicles and also supply gas to industries and other firms with dispensing points for filling cars, buses, trucks and tricycles,

The CNG station is expected to supply gas to about 3,700 cars or 600 trucks/buses every day, thereby providing a constant supply of CNG.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, who commissioned the plant at the Isolo Industrial Area, Ilasamaja, Lagos, yesterday, said that the commissioning represents a critical turning point in the development of affordable, sustainable, and secure energy sources in the country.

Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the establishment of the CNG plant aligns perfectly with his vision for economic development, job creation and industrialisation.

He said that the state government had concluded plans to deploy 2,500 conversion kits and over 2,000 new CNG buses, which will commence operations before the end of the year.

Ekpo said that the commissioning was part of government’s effort to provide an alternative source of fuel for Nigerians and lessen the impact of subsidy removal on petrol.

He, however, described 2024 as a historic year for Nigerians, stressing that through President Bola Tinubu’s decision to eliminate fuel subsidies and promote the acceptability and broader use of LPG, he has brought about several fresh beginnings in the lives of Nigerians.

Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, said that to maintain energy security and provide more access to CNG by the Nigerian populace, the NNPC had reached a Final Investment Decision (FID) with Axxela Limited to deliver six CNG service plants and stations of 5.2mmscfd capacity each in selected locations spread across the six geopolitical zones, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ease access to bulk CNG.

Kyari said that the commissioning of the NNPC CNG station in Ilasamaja, Lagos, was part of NNPC’s efforts to grow domestic gas supply and utilisation by deploying gas infrastructure nationwide.

Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor, BabajideSanwo-Olu, said the establishment of the CNG plant aligns perfectly with his vision for economic development, job creation and industrialisation in the state.

He said that in demonstration of its resolve to champion CNG utilisation, the state government had concluded plans to deploy 2,500 conversion kits and over 2,000 new CNG buses, which will commence operations before the end of the year.

Also, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, represented by the state’s Commissioner for the Environment, Ola Oresanya, said the state would support capacity-building in CNG conversion to ensure sustainability and promote economic development within the state and beyond.

The Chief Executive, Presidential CNG Initiative, Michael Oluwagbemi, described the plant commissioning as a testament to Tinubu’s commitment to providing sustainable energy solutions for Nigerians.

Also, the CEO of Axxela, Bolaji Osunsanya, commended all the stakeholders, especially the NNPC, for its consistent vision towards the delivery of the plant, stressing that his company’s many years of preparation have now met a golden opportunity to deliver cleaner and cheaper energy to Nigerians.