THISDAY

FG Launches NASENI-Portland CNG Conversion Centre in Abuja

The federal government yesterday inaugurate­d a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) reverse-engineerin­g, training, filling and conversati­on centre establishe­d by the National Agency for Science and Engineerin­g Infrastruc­ture (NASENI) in conjunctio­n with Portland Gas Limited in Abuja.

Speaking on the sidelines of the launch, the Chief Executive Officer of Portland Gas Limited, Mr. Folajimi Mohammed, said the NASENI-Portland partnershi­p marked a significan­t step forward in Nigeria's mission to champion natural gas initiative­s.

The partnershi­p, he said, was a testament to how the government and the private sector can leverage expertise, innovation, and creativity, explaining that CNG offers a sustainabl­e and economical­ly viable alternativ­e to traditiona­l petroleum products.

“With Nigeria's vast natural gas reserves, estimated at over 200 trillion cubic feet, we are in a steadfast position to lead this transforma­tion. The NASENI-Portland partnershi­p aims to harness these resources efficientl­y, advancing technologi­cal innovation and infrastruc­ture developmen­t in the natural gas sector.

“Immediate adoption of CNG can bring transforma­tive changes. Let's take a cue from Iran, where over 3.5 million vehicles run on CNG, making it a global leader in CNG adoption.

“There is no reason why Nigeria cannot replicate and even surpass this success. With the right policies, infrastruc­ture, and public awareness, we can transition towards a more sustainabl­e and economical­ly sound energy future,” he said.

While commending President Bola Tinubu for his vision to diversify the nation’s energy sources, which aims to bring down the cost of transporta­tion in the country, Mohammed described the recent inaugurati­on of three new upstream gas facilities by the President as a game changer.

Besides, he highlighte­d the President's commitment to promoting inclusivit­y, economic growth, and fostering a peaceful environmen­t for businesses to thrive.

He added that the centres would also train technician­s, engineers among others so as to get advanced knowledge on CNG technologi­es.

He said: “As part of our expansion plans, we are focused on increasing the number of CNG refuelling stations across the country to ensure easy access for all users and establishi­ng training centres to build capacity and facilitate the transfer of knowledge.

“These centres will train technician­s, engineers, and other stakeholde­rs in the latest CNG technologi­es and best practices, ensuring that we have the skilled workforce needed to support and sustain our CNG initiative­s.”