The clamour for a
safer and cheaper alternative fuel for cars and domestic appliances is
attracting more consumers to compressed natural gas (CNG) as source of
fuel for their vehicles.
CNG is a fossil
fuel comprising mostly of ethane, or natural gas under high pressure
with nearly zero emissions and is one of the cleanest burning
alternative fuels for vehicles and automobiles.
Since the Nigerian
Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCO) Plc completed the construction of
its multi-billion naira CNG plant in Benin City, Edo State, over 200
vehicle owners and taxi cab operators have turned up for the free
conversion kits that would enable their vehicles ply on the alternative
fuel.
To encourage more
vehicle owners embrace the new fuel, NIPCO said yesterday it has
commenced a free conversion programme that would see about 500 vehicles
more being converted to CNG before the end of September.
Manager, Corporate
Affairs, NIPCO PLC, Taofeek Lawal, told NEXT yesterday that the free
services rendered in accordance with the style chosen by the customer
is part of the company’s promotional scheme to create awareness about
the use of eco-friendly alternative vehicular fuel.
Conversion
Apart from the CNG
stations, Mr Lawal said state-of-the-art conversion workshops have been
established in all its retail outlets fitted with modern amenities to
facilitate effective conversion of vehicles by consumers.
The CNG facilities
include a high pressure gas compression plant, dispensing station and
CNG kit conversion workshop, which is part of a joint venture
investment between NIPCO and Nigerian Gas Company (NGC), a subsidiary
of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) responsible for
natural gas marketing and distribution.
Of the eight CNG
retail outlets so far built by the company at various locations across
the country, he said four have already been licensed to commence
operations, while additional two are billed to come on stream in the
near future.
“The CNG facilities
commissioned last year by NIPCO are to lead to the evolution of
alternate transportation fuel options in the country to reduce the high
demand pressure on liquid fuels and problems associated with scarcity
of petroleum products in the market,” Mr Lawal said.
Utilising resources
He said NIPCO’s
investment in CNG development as a vehicular fuel is another
demonstration of its commitment to government’s effort to effectively
utilise the country’s abundant gas resources to promote an
environmentally friendly vehicular fuel for motorists in the country.
Other initiatives
by the company to encourage use of gas in the country include a 5,000
metric tons (MT) capacity Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plant in Apapa,
Lagos.
Benefits associated
with the usage of the CNG based on the prevailing price of CNG and
liquid fuels, include: lower mile-to-mile operating cost, which is
cheaper than the premium motor spirit (PMS) or petrol, by over 40
percent, and over 55 percent when compared to diesel.
Due to the complete combustion of gaseous fuels, maintenance cost with CNG is lower.
