The Federal Government has stated that there are over 9,000 licenced filling stations across the nation that are suitable for the co-location of facilities that dispense autogas gasoline.
This information was provided in a statement made by the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology following the stakeholders’ engagement session on the provision of technical manpower and facilities for the development and promotion of autogas as a transportation fuel in Nigeria.
The conference, which had the theme “Autogas as an alternative fuel for transportation in Nigeria,” demonstrated the need for autogas—a combination of liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and compressed natural gas—to be widely adopted as an alternative automotive fuel.
According to the communiqué, Nigeria’s gas reserves are approximately 209 trillion cubic feet, and the country has more than enough gas to meet its needs at a production rate of 8.15 to 8.35 billion standard cubic feet per day.
Providing updates on the implementation status of the autogas programme, the NITT said, “There are over 9,000 licensed retail outlets classified fit-for-purpose for co-location of autogas fuel nationwide.
“There are 50 conversion centres currently upgrading for mass conversion and training of technicians in the country. Auto assemblers are already producing fit-for-purpose dual-fuel vehicles in the country.
“The Nigeria Gas Expansion Programme had held extensive multi-sectoral stakeholder engagement and secured impressive programme support and buy-in. The government is supporting the deployment of over one million conversion kits for trucks and smaller vehicles.”
It stated that Nigeria will benefit both immediately and in the long run from the deployment of autogas technology and that the government was committed to ensuring the greatest possible availability of all autogas fuel sources.
According to the communiqué, the forum suggested that in order to conduct research, develop, and deploy autogas fuel in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Transportation work in conjunction with pertinent stakeholders and the business sector.
It recommended that the Federal Government offer incentives to drivers, particularly in the public transport and road freight sectors, to purchase conversion kits as a method to mitigate the withdrawal of gasoline subsidies.
