Subsidy Removal: Is Gas-Powered Vehicles Still Viable?

The removal of fuel subsidies has led to a sharp increase in the price of petrol in Nigeria. This has made petrol-powered vehicles more expensive and less environmentally friendly. As a result, there is a growing need for alternative mobility options, such as electric vehicles or those powered by natural gas.

Nigeria has a rich natural gas reserve that could be used to fuel these alternative vehicles. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) estimates that Nigeria has 206 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, which is the 9th largest reserve in the world.

The use of natural gas for transportation would have a number of benefits. It would be more affordable than petrol, and it would produce fewer emissions. This would help to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported oil and improve air quality.

The government and private sector need to work together to develop the infrastructure needed to support the use of natural gas for transportation. This includes building refuelling stations and developing new technologies for using natural gas in vehicles.

By making the switch to natural gas, Nigeria can improve its economy, environment, and energy security.

Benefits of using natural gas for transportation:

• Natural gas is a cleaner burning fuel than petrol. It produces fewer emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, which can help to improve air quality.
• It is a more affordable fuel than petrol. The price of natural gas is more stable than the price of petrol, which can help to reduce transportation costs.
• Natural gas is a domestic resource. Nigeria has a large natural gas reserve, which means that the country is not dependent on imported oil for transportation. This can help to improve Nigeria’s energy security.
• The use of natural gas for transportation is a win-win for Nigeria. It can help to improve the economy, environment, and energy security. The government and private sector need to work together to develop the infrastructure needed to support this transition.

The federal government had also declared a decade of gas to leverage the huge gas reserve to drive usage of gas for not only domestic usage but to power automobiles. In 2020, the immediate past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari launched a scheme to convert over 1m vehicles running on petroleum to gas as it moved to reduce reliance on petrol-powered vehicles. The government had said it is more economical to power automobiles using autogas rather than petrol.

According to energy experts, gas is the next frontier for Nigeria given the high cost of fuel and even the uncertainty in the international oil market.

General Manager, Corporate Communication and Zonal Coordination of the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Dr Ginah O. Ginah, who spoke in Lagos at a media workshop recently said, “The federal government also has a policy on auto fuel, that is, to convert our motor vehicles to use Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) instead of petrol which we find difficult to produce.”

He stressed the importance of this, saying the CNG is cleaner and using it on vehicles would reduce the maintenance cost in addition to generating more employment opportunities and boosting economic activity along that value chain.

He added, “Before this time, we have had some filling stations that are dispensing CNG; I ran into one of them in Benin, I think it was a NIPCO filling station, and this was some years back; they already had filling stations that were dispensing CNG. On the Benin axis alone, they had converted more than 5,000 vehicles. The only problem was to ramp up that particular achievement and replicate it in all the states in the country. They were able to replicate it in Ibafo in Ogun State.

“Gas is very clean for you and it would reduce your maintenance cost because if your car is using CNG, it doesn’t need any deposit of smoke and oil in your engine.”

Justice Derefaka, one-time Technical Adviser on Gas Business and Policy Implementation to former Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, explained the conversion process and said it would take at least seven hours at the various conversion centres across the country to finish the process.

“The conversion of your vehicle is not something that will take three weeks or seven days; it will take you around seven to eight hours because they (technicians) need to do a diagnosis of your vehicle to see if it is fit for conversion. After that, they will test for roadworthiness and then proceed.”

A few parts and a skilled metal fabricator who can drill and weld pieces together expertly are required to convert your fuel car to CNG. According to auto specialists, the following parts are required for a proper CNG conversion on your car:

• A gas tank
• A regulator
• Parallel fuel rail
• CNG injectors
• An adapter
• A wiring harness
• Fuelling ECU.

Former Director of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr Mamudu Luqman, while saying the drive to encourage gas-powered vehicles is welcome, advised that existing petrol stations can install gas filling facilities.

“Government should also encourage the production of the cylinders locally and provide installation training on a sustainable basis. The price must be competitive compared to petrol or diesel. Otherwise, it will only serve the purpose of cleaner air which in itself is desirable,” he said.

Already, several auto companies in Nigeria are pushing for the transition to gas-powered cars.

Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, a local automaker, is leading the charge after introducing natural gas-powered vehicles, buses, and cars to the Nigerian market recently.

Recently, a new set of automobiles that would especially run on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) were introduced at the IVM factory in Nnewi, Anambra State.

According to Innoson, the CNG and LNG buses demonstrate the company’s dedication to supporting environmentally responsible transportation in Nigeria.

It stated, “They are designed to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality while providing a comfortable and safe ride for passengers.”

Kojo Motors, owners of the Yutong range of buses, has also introduced Yutong passenger buses powered by CNG.

The new CNG-powered bus unveiled at the Abuja Motor Fair last year was designed as a veritable alternative to petrol-powered cars.

Although vehicles can use natural gas as either a liquid or a gas, most vehicles use the gaseous form, compressed to about 218 kg/cm2.

According to the manufacturers of Yutong, the 10-metre CNG inter- and intra-city compressed natural gas commercial passenger bus is coming into the Nigerian market with numerous advantages.

And with petrol prices going to the roof, many people say gas can be an alternative to vehicle owners. But how cost-effective?

Yutong said CNG is about 50 per cent cheaper than petrol.

“Without air conditioning, when the speed is 24km/h, the 100km gas consumption is 41 cubic metres. At 32 kilometres per hour, the gas consumption per 100 kilometres is 31 cubic metres.

“With air conditioning on, gas consumption increases by 10%. This is experimental data; specific gas consumption will be affected by road conditions, congestion, driver’s driving habits and so on, we do not promise gas consumption,” the company said.

Read More Articles

Bolt, Uber drivers in Nigeria go on strike over fuel price hike

Fuel Subsidy Removal: Filling Stations Record Low Sales