The nation’s match towards gas revolution recorded a milestone yesterday when Sagas, a division of Borkir Energy Company Limited, a subsidiary of Dangote Group headed by Alhaji Sani Dangote signed a 20- year sales and purchase agreement with the Nigeria Gas Company Limited (NGC) to supply and distribute compressed natural gas as alternative automotive fuel.
A statement issued by the Dangote Group yesterday explained that “The novel scheme which will reduce gas flaring involves Sagas getting high pressured gas from the NGC through its vast network of pipelines and compress it to a cheaper, cleaner and sustainable alternative fuel or dual fuel for profitable business”.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of Borkir, Alhaji Sani Dangote, explained that the agreement signing was the beginning of a new era in gas utilisation in Nigeria, saying his company has kick started the necessary process to provide gas as alternative to automobile and industrial fuel.
He said vehicles would be converted to be able to use the gas and that conversion centres would be established at various points across the federation even as he disclosed that such center had been opened at Ikeja already in partnership with a foreign firm.
Dangote further disclosed that a pilot conversion for gas usage had commenced with the enlistment of Dangote Group’s 5, 000 trucks which are being converted for dual fuel usage (Gas and Diesel), with the hope of converting 20, 000 vehicles within the next one year of take-off.
While pointing out the advantages of use of gas as alternative fuel for vehicles far out-weighed the use of petrol or diesel, he noted that the gas iswas readily available in large quantity, environmentally friendly, guaranteed price stability and engine durability.
However, Borkir, he said would embark on public demonstration of the process to show how safe, cost effective and friendly the use of gas to motorists.
He then gave the value and service portfolio of Borkir to include; CNG Supply & Distribution through Mother stations,CNG Tube Trailers,Daughter Stations and Storage Systems; Off-site/public CNG Retail Stations – All-fuel retail service stations for CNG,AGO,PMS and DPK located strategically along the major? traffic routes; On-site CNG Fuelling Stations for industrial and commercial customer locations; Vehicle Conversion Facility and Industrial application conversion/support Services for Dual Fuel (Diesel and CNG) usage; Vehicle Fitness Check-Up Station and advisory Services(whether turnkey or bespoke) on sourcing and installation of infrastructure and equipment for CNG and management of CNG systems.