Fuel Subsidy: FG confirms 9,000 filling stations fit for autogas co-location
The Federal Government of Nigeria has confirmed that there are over 9,000 licensed filling stations across the country that are fit for the co-location of facilities that dispense autogas fuel.
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This disclosure is contained in a communiqué issued by the Nigerian institute of Transport Technology (NIIT) at the end of the stakeholders’ engagement forum on the provision of technical manpower and facility for the development and promotion of autogas as a transportation fuel in Nigeria.
The communiqué noted that there are 50 conversion centers currently upgrading for mass conversion and training of technicians in the country. This was disclose at the conference venue where the theme of the conference was, “Autogas as an alternative fuel for Transportation in Nigeria.”
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The conference showed that there was a need for alternative options for transportation fuels such as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) known as Autogas, which should become widely used and accepted as an alternative automotive fuel.
The communiqué pointed out that Nigeria’s gas reserve were about 209 trillion cubic feet, adding that gas production was between 8.15 - 8.35 billion standard cubic feet/day, which was more than enough for the nation.
Soon there will be Auto assemblers producing dual-fuel vehicles
on the autogas program, NIIT said, “There are over 9,000 licensed retail outlets classified fit-for-purpose for co-location of autogas fuel nationwide. The Nigeria Gas Expansion Programme had held extensive multi-sectoral stakeholder engagement and secured impressive program support and buy-in. it is also said that the Federal government is supporting the deployment of over one million conversion kits for trucks and smaller vehicles.
Incentives should be provided to motorists
NITT stated that the government was supporting the optimal availability of all autogas fuel streams, adding that the adoption of autogas technology was good for Nigeria in the short and long term.
The communiqué further stated that the forum recommended that the Federal Ministry of Transportation should collaborate with relevant stakeholders and private sector for research, development, and deployment of autogas fuel in Nigeria.
It is also said that the federal Government should provide incentives to motorists, especially in the public transport and road freights sub-sector for the conversion kits acquisition as a way of cushioning fuel subsidy removal in the country.
Lastly, the federal Government has in 2020 launched the Autogas scheme, called the National Gas Expansion Programme, which involves the conversion of fuel-powered cars and generators from petrol to gas and is aimed at deepening domestic usage of natural gas in various forms.
This was recently brought to the front burner following the removal of fuel subsidies and the attendant sharp increase in the price of the product.
The Federal Government had in September 2020 directed the 9,000 filling stations nationwide to begin the installation of facilities for gas products as part of moves to improve the utilization of liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and autogas as alternative fuels for Nigerians.
