Kehinde Fajobi
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has announced a massive 2,500% increase in the country’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion capacity in 2024.
Mr Farouk Ahmed, the Authority Chief Executive, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at the inaugural Petroleum Industry Stakeholders’ Forum organised by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
Ahmed credited the increase to the establishment of 186 new conversion centres under the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI).
He explained, “The NMDPRA will continue to collaborate with the PCNGI to ensure the deployment of CNG infrastructure in major cities such as Lagos and Abuja, targeting up to 100,000 vehicle conversions. We are also working with states to expand Nigeria Gas Vehicles (NGVs) in other areas.”
Ahmed highlighted that these efforts have boosted the country’s gas-powered vehicle population to between 30,000 and 50,000, with daily growth.
“With over $400 million attracted for investment in 86 new daughter stations and 65 mother stations under construction, Nigeria’s refuelling capacity has risen from 20 to 56,” he added.
The collaboration between PCNGI, NMDPRA, and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has also led to the development of standards and a monitoring system for Nigeria Gas Vehicles, which Ahmed said would be inaugurated this year.
The NMDPRA is also working with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and the National Institute of Transportation Technology (NITT) to ensure sustainable and safe growth of CNG mobility in Nigeria.
Ahmed, however, identified challenges, including the unauthorised establishment of petroleum handling facilities, poor collaboration for third-party facility access, and limited cooperation from some operators regarding regulatory oversight.
“We implore the industry to adhere to all regulatory requirements, especially as they relate to safety, efficiency, best practices, sustainability, consumer protection, and community participation,” he urged.
He added that the NMDPRA would enhance regulatory oversight in 2025 by upgrading laboratories for better product quality analysis, strengthening inter-agency collaborations, and driving automation and sustainability.