The Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has announced plans to establish 100 compressed natural gas (CNG) stations across the country.
NNPC Retail Limited’s Managing Director, Huub Stokman, revealed this during the launch of 12 CNG stations in Abuja and Lagos on Thursday. He stated, “In the next year, NNPC Retail will have launched over 100 CNG sites, including 16 NNPC Gas Marketing and NIPCO Gas JV sites.”
Stokman emphasized the cost-effectiveness of CNG, noting, “CNG provides Nigeria with affordable alternatives to existing available fuel products. It will be about 40% cheaper than petrol in Nigeria and with continued investments, it will become a significant part of our energy mix.”
NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari also announced plans to build three Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) stations in Ajaokuta, Kogi State, asserting, “There is simply no way to turn back on delivering CNG for all Nigerians. It is the right thing to do. Is it late? Yes, but we will make progress, we will cover the gap in order to ensure that the volatility we see with Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) does not apply to gas.”
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo highlighted the economic benefits of the commissioning, including job creation, stating, “This initiative will bring economic progress to the nation.”
This development follows over a year since President Bola Tinubu’s administration ended the fuel subsidy regime, which significantly increased the cost of petrol. The government has since been working to provide alternative energy sources.
