The Nigerian Government is poised to achieve over 60% savings on diesel costs following the successful retrofitting of train locomotives to operate on a dual-fuel system.
Minister of Transportation, Said Alkali, expressed enthusiasm about the initiative during a statement released on Friday.
“This achievement is a significant step towards reducing transportation costs and making train fares more affordable for the public,” Alkali remarked. The demonstration took place at the Amina J. Mohammed Train Station (Idu Train Station) in Abuja, where the newly retrofitted locomotives were tested along the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor.
These locomotives now operate on a mix of 70% Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and 30% diesel, marking a pivotal move towards lowering operational expenses while promoting cleaner energy in Nigeria’s rail transport system.
Alkali explained that prior to this modification, the locomotives relied solely on diesel. The upgrade enables them to primarily use LNG, with diesel making up just a fraction of their fuel consumption. However, he acknowledged the technical limitations in converting the locomotives to operate entirely on LNG, as the heavy-duty engines were originally designed for diesel use. “It is not technically possible to convert it to run 100% on LNG,” he stated.
Looking ahead, the minister outlined plans to extend this retrofitting initiative across the national rail network. He emphasized the importance of reviewing current regulations before fully implementing the conversion, indicating that the ministry would engage the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission for assessment. “This will enable us to approach the Federal Executive Council for approval,” Alkali added.
Managing Director of De-Sadel Consortium Samuel Uko praised the accomplishment, noting that this is the first locomotive in Africa to operate using LNG. He credited the proactive efforts of the ministry and its leadership for making this breakthrough possible. “Without their support, this achievement would never have been realized,” Uko concluded.
