The Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI) has announced plans to establish at least 150 new refueling stations across Nigeria within the next 18 months. Michael Oluwagbemi, Chief Executive of the initiative, emphasized the importance of expanding infrastructure to ensure that Nigerians have easy access to compressed natural gas (CNG). He revealed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has already deployed 12 sites and is set to add 8 more this quarter. Furthermore, approval has been granted for an additional 100 stations over the next 18 to 24 months, with private partners like NIPCO, Bovas, and AY Shafa contributing to the expansion.
The initiative’s expansion also includes significant investments from other entities like Ibile Oil and Gas, MBH, and Mikano, which are building both mother and daughter CNG stations. NIPCO has imported equipment for 32 daughter stations, with 22 already in operation and 8 more under construction. Similarly, Bovas is constructing 8 stations, and AY Shafa has completed one with 9 more underway.
In response to the explosion of a CNG-powered vehicle in Benin, Edo State, last year, Oluwagbemi clarified that the incident was caused by economic saboteurs involved in the illegal fabrication of CNG cylinders. He assured the public that such incidents would be prevented in the future, thanks to the implementation of the National Gas Vehicle Management System (NGVMS). This system, which is set to launch by the end of the year, will ensure that only certified and properly labeled vehicles are refueled at CNG stations.
Oluwagbemi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of both lives and investments in the sector. He highlighted the issuance of regulatory standards in March 2024 and ongoing efforts to collaborate with agencies like the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC). He called on all industry participants to comply with safety and security regulations as part of the initiative’s overarching goal of fostering a safe and sustainable CNG infrastructure across the country.