By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Over $280 million has been invested by Dangote Cement Plc in compressed natural gas (CNG) technology and infrastructure to enhance energy efficiency and drive economic growth in Nigeria.
The cement maker turned to CNG in demonstration of its support for President Bola Tinubu’s drive for cheaper and cleaner fuelling alternatives for all Nigerians.
At a recent event, the President emphasised the urgent need for Nigeria to utilise its vast natural gas resources in the transportation sector.
He stated that CNG transportation is an economic necessity for Nigeria, signalling a significant shift in the country’s approach to public transportation and energy use.
This has spurred Dangote Cement to adopt CNG, reflecting its dedication to mitigating climate change and supporting a transition to a low-carbon economy, making it the largest operator of CNG trucks in the country.
The chief executive of Dangote Group, Mr Aliko Dangote, said his company’s investments in CNG are also in line with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, which aims for net-zero emissions by 2060.
“In this pursuit of transition to clean energy, we are optimistic of a remarkable accomplishment by President Tinubu, as he has taken the lead in the nation’s drive towards energy efficiency. This presupposes private sector intervention to support this noble idea initiated by the President,” he stated.
The businessman noted that the firm’s early adoption of CNG has made it the largest operator of CNG trucks in Nigeria, emphasising that the initiative is a boost to Mr Tinubu’s quest towards enhancing the nation’s energy independence and contributing to a more secure energy future.
“We are now using CNG vehicles, especially with the new policy of the federal government, launched under the Renewed Hope Agenda by President Tinubu. We are committed to a cleaner and greener future,” Mr Dangote said.
On his part, the chief executive of Dangote Cement, Mr Arvind Pathak, said the cement miller aims to acquire 100 per cent CNG trucks as part of a long-term plan to transition its entire fleet to CNG.
He disclosed that the CNG infrastructure investments have positively influenced Nigeria’s transition to cleaner fuels, adding that the CNG station at Obajana, capable of refuelling over 3,000 trucks, exemplifies this commitment, with a second station currently under development in Ibese to support fleet operations further.
“By mid-2026, Dangote Cement aims to operate a fleet predominantly powered by CNG. To facilitate this transformation, we are investing in expanding our CNG fuelling infrastructure, ensuring that our growing fleet has reliable access to CNG as our fuel,” Mr Pathak said.
He added that plans are afoot to aggressively pursue this timeline of deployment, beginning from the first quarter of 2025, saying, “We are keeping our eyes on the ball to ensure that we do not miss our target dates of full compliance.”