- The unavailability of CNG stations has been a major hindrance to the Tinubu gas initiative.
- IPMAN boasts over 80% of the filling stations across the nooks and crannies of the country.
Members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) have disclosed they are in talks with the federal government to commence the sale of compressed natural gas (CNG) in their filling stations.
The National Vice President of IPMAN, Hammed Fashola, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday, said marketers’ existing filling stations would serve as CNG refilling points to hasten the adoption of gas in the country.
With the removal of fuel subsidies, the federal government have been making efforts to invest in gas as a cheaper and cleaner alternative to petrol and diesel. However, the unavailability of CNG stations has been a major hindrance to the Tinubu gas initiative.
IPMAN boasts over 80 per cent of the filling stations across the nooks and crannies of the country. Fashola noted that IPMAN had met with the federal government to find ways to make the product available across Nigeria.
According to him, many independent marketers already sell liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), also known as cooking gas, in their stations, saying CNG was the next target. He stated that they plan to convert trucks from diesel to CNG-powered engines, while kits would also be available.
“Most of our members are into LPG already. You see scales in their stations for the sale of domestic gas. Now, we are looking at CNG. We are talking with the government; we want to partner with the government on that. It is very easy for us.
“We already have the facility; we have the filling stations. It is just to add up, and then we are good to go. And if we have CNG, it is an alternative to petrol and diesel. It will be cheaper, and people will have an option. That is why we said let’s go for CNG,” he stated.
He also said seminars were ongoing to tackle the high cost of transporting the product and the need for pipelines to make the distribution process seamless.