The Federal Government has rolled out plans to test-run trains that will operate on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and diesel.
This was disclosed on Tuesday in a statement by the Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Ahmed Alkali.
“Yesterday (Monday), I conducted an inspection of the Nigeria Railway Corporation Locomotives at the Idu Workshop in the Abuja Cosmopolitan area to assess the progress of retrofitting locomotives to operate on both LNG and diesel fuel,” Alkali said.
READ ALSO: FG launches Port-Harcourt to Aba train service, declares 4-day free ride
“During our examination, we engaged with the engineers involved in the project and observed that the process has reached an advanced stage.
“The engine is set to undergo a test run, marking a significant milestone as the first of its kind on the African Continent.”
Alkali said the engine will operate on a combination of 30% diesel and 70% gas fuel.
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“This means that upon startup, the engine will initially run on diesel before seamlessly transitioning to gas for the duration of the journey.”
He said the objective is to reduce maintenance costs by approximately 60 to 70 percent and regulate carbon emissions, as this presents one of the most straightforward methods for managing local air pollution.
Alkali disclosed that upon completion, the trial will commence on the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor due to the planned installation of the retrofitting workshop in Abuja, which is intended to facilitate the testing process starting in June, 2024.
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The Minister added that the process will be replicated on other corridors nationwide.
FG last month launched the 62km Port-Harcourt to Aba rail service and declared a four-day free train ride for passengers.
The Minister of Transportation officially flagged off the commencement of the rail service in Port-Harcourt on Workers’ Day, May 1.
Alkali in his address noted that transportation is amongst the eight key priority areas of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, hence his prioritization of the eastern rail corridor project upon assumption of office.
