The Federal Government said that there are over 9,000 licensed filling stations across the country that are suitable for the co-location of facilities that dispense autogas fuel.
At the conclusion of the stakeholders’ engagement session on the provision of technical manpower and facilities for the development and promotion of autogas as a transportation fuel in Nigeria, the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology announced this in a communique.
The conference, with the theme, ‘Autogas as an alternative fuel for transportation in Nigeria’, showed that there was a need for alternative options for transportation fuels such as Liquefied Natural Gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas, and Compressed Natural Gas known as autogas, which should become widely used and accepted as an alternative automotive fuel.
The communique stated that Nigeria gas reserves were about 209 trillion cubic feet, adding that gas production was between 8.15 – 8.35 billion standard cubic feet/day, which was more than enough for the nation.
Providing updates on the implementation status of the autogas programme, the NITT said, “There are over 9,000 licensed retail outlets classified fit-for-purpose for co-location of autogas fuel nationwide.
“There are 50 conversion centres currently upgrading for mass conversion and training of technicians in the country. Auto assemblers are already producing fit-for-purpose dual-fuel vehicles in the country.
“The Nigeria Gas Expansion Programme had held extensive multi-sectoral stakeholder engagement and secured impressive programme support and buy-in. The government is supporting the deployment of over one million conversion kits for trucks and smaller vehicles.”
The adoption of autogas technology was deemed beneficial for Nigeria in the short and long term, and it was said that the government supported the best possible availability of all autogas fuel streams.
According to the communiqué, the forum suggested that in order to conduct research, develop, and deploy autogas fuel in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Transportation should collaborate with pertinent stakeholders and the business sector.
It recommended that the Federal Government offer incentives to motorists, particularly in the public transportation and road freight sectors, to purchase conversion kits as a method to mitigate the removal of petrol subsidy.
Ada Peter
