The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), on Monday, September 14, unveiled plans to support plans by the ministry of petroleum resources to provide an alternate energy source for Nigerians by opening compressed natural gas (CNG) refill stations across the country.
This was contained in a statement issued by Kennie Obateru, group general manager of NNPC public affairs division, who quoted Mele Kyari, the group managing director.
Kyari explained that the company will work with other stakeholders; to provide viable alternatives to petrol; which would ultimately lead to a reduction in demand as well as price of the product.
The CNG (methane stored at high pressure) can be used as an alternative to petrol, diesel and also liquefied petroleum gas (LPG); as well as its combustion produces fewer undesirable gases than conventional fuels.
Timipre Sylva, the minister of state for petroleum resources, has announced; that the federal government will inaugurate CNG plants in NNPC filling stations nationwide in the coming weeks.
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Kyari had revealed in an interview that the NNPC deliberately shut down the refineries; to allow for a robust diagnosis of the issues which have overtime also made it impossible for the facilities to operate up to their nameplate capacity.
The GMD also said the issues were also compounded by pipeline vandalism; which has made it difficult to supply crude oil to the refineries.
He explained that the corporation is moving rapidly to execute complete rehabilitation of the refineries; under an exercise that would guarantee restoration of the facilities to at least 90 percent capacity utilization.
The GMD reiterated the commitment of the corporation towards openness and greater transparency in its operations; noting that in the months ahead NNPC would make public its 2019 audited financial statements (AFS); as a sequel to the 2018 AFS released in June 2020.
