NIPCO Urges Motorists To Embrace Compressed Natural Gas

The Managing Director, Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCO) Plc, Mr Venkataraman Venkatatapathy has advised motorists to embrace the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as alternative to petrol.

Venkatapathy, who gave the advice in an interview with journalists in Lagos, urged motorists to start converting their vehicle engines to gas-powered.

He said that this would reduce the motorists’ over-dependence on petrol, pointing out the interest shown by Nigerians at the just concluded Oil and Gas Conference in Abuja indicated that the CNG campaign was eliciting positive response.

“Already, in anticipation of more motorists converting their vehicles to use CNG, the Green Grass Limited. (GGL), a joint venture between NIPCO and Nigeria Gas Company (NGC), has embarked on building of more outlets. This is to meet the expected high demands, and very soon, some of the stations will begin operation,” the NIPCO boss said.

Venkatapathy noted the company had also completed the laying of over 40 kilometers of gas pipeline to supply natural gas to the commercial and industrial companies along Benin-Warri highway.

He stated that the company has experienced personnel at the workshops who could work diligently to ensure a seamless conversion of fuel-operated vehicles to CNG-powered ones.

According to him, the CNG schemes offer dual fuel option to users by providing flexibility of running a vehicle, either on CNG or on petrol by simply flicking a switch installed on the dashboard.

He said that with over 14 million vehicles running on CNG worldwide and the projection of 20 million by 2020, Nigeria could also use her existing natural gas resources.

Venkatapathy disclosed that the company had participated in many exhibitions to promote the use of CNG, adding that, it would continue to harness all avenues to ensure that Nigeria joins the comity of nations using CNG..

“Our CNG team has also successfully converted Edo State Government buses to run on CNG and diesel on a hybrid, saving 50 per cent of the fuel cost for the state-run company.

“Apart from the national benefits of the system, an individual as well, gets relieved.

“It lowers operating cost as CNG is cheaper than petrol by over 40 per cent and by over 55 per cent in the case of diesel,”  Venkatapathy explained.