Ekperikpe Ekpo, minister of state for petroleum resources (gas), has inaugurated a 5.2 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) compressed natural gas (CNG) and autogas station in Lagos.

The inauguration ceremony themed ‘From Gas to Prosperity: CNG for All,’ was held in Lagos on Thursday.

Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, in partnership with Transit Gas Nigeria Limited (TGNL), a subsidiary of Axxela, built the facility.

The CNG station is expected to fill about 3,700 cars or 600 trucks and buses per day.

Inaugurating the facility, Ekpo said the event represents a significant milestone in the nation’s journey towards energy security, accessibility, and affordability for Nigerians.

“As the nation continues to take giant strides in the adoption of CNG as a sustainable alternative to PMS and AGO, we are resolute to bring the benefits of CNG adoption closer to the Nigerian people, and projects like this are major milestones in achieving this objective,” he said.

“CNG, as we know, is cheaper, cleaner, more eco-friendly, and safer than traditional liquid fuels and will enhance the nation’s efforts to meet its nationally determined contributions (NDCs) obligations to the Paris climate change agreement.”

By harnessing the potential of the country’s natural gas resources, Ekpo said NNPC is not only driving economic growth but also paving the way for a more sustainable and prosperous future for all Nigerians.

‘NNPC: CNG STATION TO BE REPLICATED ACROSS GEOPOLITICAL ZONES’

Also speaking during the event, Mele Kyari, group chief executive officer (GCEO) of NNPC. said the station is the largest CNG facility of the NNPC, adding that it will be replicated in the six geopolitical zones.

Kyari said NNPC is building massive infrastructure in-country to ensure that gas reaches every corner of Nigeria and to build the volume required for economic growth.  

“This plant is a 5.2 million mmscf gas facility. And of course, not just that, it can actually fit 30 kits in a day. And also it has a possibility of providing gas to industries around this place and around Lagos in addition to the ability to fill cars or trucks when they come into the station,” he said

According to Kyari, the CNG station has the capacity to fill over 3000 cars every day. 

“Yes, we are converting our cars and a number of stations across the country. And this is the beginning. We are going to roll out a number of our stations across the country in our fuel stations so that people can have access to it,” he said.

“We also know that the private sector are doing many things in collaboration with us and we will also integrate that. We believe that these collaborations are within sight. It is being delivered so that in a year’s time, people will say ‘we don’t have to drive into fuel stations to buy PMS’.

“Needless to say, as of today, this is the largest facility we have for CNG in the country. And we’re going to replicate this across the six geo-political zones. We have selected locations.” 

He said the CNG station will be built in locations that allow for ease of delivery to other states.

Kyari thanked Axxela and other partners of NNPC for believing in the company. 

In August 2023, NNPC also partnered with NIPCO Gas Limited to construct 35 CNG stations across the country.

The Cable