FG Plans To Increase CNG Conversion By 733%

The federal government announced plans to boost Nigeria’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion by 733 percent, aiming to reach 250,000 conversions by June 2025, up from 30,000 in October 2024.

This initiative, known as the Presidential CNG Initiative (Pi-CNG), is part of the palliative measures introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu‘s administration.

By 2027, the CNG conversion rate is projected to increase by over 3,000 percent, achieving a total of 1,000,000 conversions from the current figure of 30,000 in October 2024.

Naija News reports that Engr. Zayyanu Tambari, the Regulatory & Compliance Coordinator for the Pi-CNG, shared this information during a virtual event titled “Driving the Energy Transition: CNG Conversion,” organized by the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN).

He indicated that the conversion program is presently supported by 100 partners, with expectations to expand to 150 by March 31, 2025, and 200 by June 30, 2025.

Additionally, Tambari reported that 85 CNG buses had been delivered to four cities, with 20 buses allocated to Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, and Ilorin each, while five buses were distributed to other regions of the country.

He stressed the safety of CNG and announced the forthcoming launch of the Nigeria Gas Vehicle Monitoring System (NGVMS) to improve safety protocols.

He also mentioned that in September 2024, the Pi-CNG will introduce nine new CNG refuelling stations and will facilitate the concession of tricycle routes in their vicinity, aiming to support an additional 2,000 tricycles in 2024, with three states already activated.

“In October 2024, we launched local manufacturing of CNG kits and cylinders and CNG fund to bridge the infrastructure gap and CNG Green Financing Initiative. In November and December 2024, we intend to launch a finance scheme for the refuelling add-on programme and completion of 100,000 conversions and countdown to one million Presidents kits,” Tambari noted.

Similarly, the Deputy Operations manager of NIPCo, Ujiadugbeli Nosiediana, said the company has been in the forefront of the nation’s CNG conversion for several years, adding: “NIPCo started CNG conversion in 2009. It pioneered Auto-CNG distribution for automobiles in Nigeria and has been providing the economical fuel the masses.”

“Currently, 19 CNG stations are operational, including four mother stations, which are feeding CNG to daughter booster stations in various parts of Nigeria. We have five conversion workshops operational in Benin City, Ibafo, Abuja and Ibadan, converting PMS vehicles to CNG.

“In Benin city, seven CNG stations are already operational and catering to more than 10,000 long-haul (buses and trucks) vehicles with auto-CNG fuel.”

In his remark, the Deputy Director of the Standards Development Coordination Division at the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Engr. Olalekan Omoniyi stated that certain standards have been established to govern the conversion to CNG, with a focus on ensuring the safety of lives and properties within the nation.

He said: “Regulators are encouraged to obtain relevant standards on the management and handling of the CNG equipment and components. SON training is available to train stakeholders on standards requirements and compliance. SON and partner regulatory agencies must ensure the enforcement of the Pressure Certificate Plate.

“Certificate of personnel and conversion centres should be carried out before conversion centres are granted approval to operate as stipulated in the Nigerian national Guide NNG 1214: 2024 – Autogas (CNG) Conversion kits – Guideline for installation of specific components for the use of CNG in their propulsion system.”

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