By Femi Akinola
The Executive Director, Distribution System Storage and Retailing Infrastructure, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authhority (NMDPRA), Engr. Ogbugo Ukoha, has disclosed that no new petrol station licence would be granted without a point to dispense CNG in the facility.
Making a presentation recently at a Co-Creation Session on Nigeria Gas Vehicle Monitoring System (NGVMS), in Abuja, Ukoha said the agency in its quest to promote the use of gas in the country has gazette two regulations.
According to him, the regulations will address technical framework and specifications for the development of gas retailing infrastructure and fuel quality standard.
He said the Authority is pushing petrol owners to set up CNG points in their facilities.
He said the Authority is also engaging stakeholders that will result in mandating fuel trucks and fleet owners and facilities to convert to the use of CNG, taking into consideration the high cost of diesel.
Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the federal government has determined to ensure that Nigeria reaps the full benefits of its gas resources.
The minister who was represented at the event by Engr. Abel Nsa, pointed out that to ensure a safe usage of CNG as fuel for vehicles, specific materials and tools would be needed across the value chain.
”We are at the point where we need to begin to talk about the safety issues in the use of CNG. We have got to educate ourselves and we have got to use specific tools and materials hitherto that we have not been using.
”If you will recall what happened in 2001-2009 with the emergence of the cell phone during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime, from the economic perspective, a lot is going to happen. It is going to give us a lot of tools on how to utilize CNG,” the minister noted.
The Federal Government regarded CNG as a suitable and cheaper alternative fuel for motorists in Nigeria because it has lower impact and is more environmentally friendly.
Industry analysts have identified three critical infrastructure that will facilitate the transition from petrol to GNG, without which the efforts and conversion around the benefit to the nation will remain a dream.
The critical infrastructure listed for smooth conversion included gas pipeline across the country, CNG conversion centres which are still in short supply and dispensing points in retail filling stations.