The Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PCNGI) has disclosed that over, initiative supported by various partners is rolling out 175 stations nationwide to expand and make CNG available and accessible to the public.
The statement signed by the Program Director/Chief Executive, Engr. Michael O. Oluwagbemi on Monday was in reaction to negative campaign in some that the it is facing setbacks in driving CNG penetration across the country.
Engr. Oluwagbemi said contrary to media report, less than one year after the commencement of the programme, over fifty thousand vehicles have so far been converted across the country.
He said the number was expected to rise to 100,000, and increased queues at CNG conversion stations.
He explained that efforts for more collaboration with the private sector, as well as public partners, were underway to develop the necessary infrastructure to meet the rising demand of CNG vehicles across the country.
Oluwagbemi explained that last week, two new daughter stations in Abuja were commissioned with AY Shafa and Femadec investing in these ventures.
He added that said both entities are working on establishing nine and 21 daughter stations respectively over the next one year.
“For Femadec, the dual benefit of leading the charge of building CNG ecosystem in 20 universities is an icing on the cake. This week, Yola is stepping up with Greenville investing, in its intensive roll out of LCNG stations in 51 locations across the North and SE as well as hard to reach places. Over 175 stations are being rolled out nationwide by various partners.
“In addition to Greenville and Femadec, the PCNGI is backing partners to roll out 24 sites in the next 6-9 months, with one site already activated in Ilorin. Port Harcourt, Ado Ekiti, Lokoja, Abuja, Aba and Enugu will all go live within the next 60 to 120 days to dispense CNG, to scale the refueling on-lending initiative heralded with the first launch in Ilorin last year that have already transformed that local economy.
“Aside from these, NNPCL is investing. Additional 8 stations to its current stock of 12 are being finished as we speak and another 40 of 100 in Phase 2 of her roll out plan is being finalized.” He stressed.
According to PCNGI, another investor, Bovas is launching two sites in Ibadan for its eight-station rollout of ultra-modern CNG stations and ecosystem.
It listed NIPCO’s eight stations within six months, which is in addition to 23 already functional across the country.