The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has announced a remarkable increase of over 2,500 percent in Nigeria’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion capacity in 2024. This was revealed by the agency’s Chief Executive Officer, Farouk Ahmed, during his address at the inaugural Petroleum Industry Stakeholders’ Forum, organized by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources on Thursday in Abuja.
Ahmed explained that the NMDPRA facilitated the establishment of 186 new conversion centres to enhance the country’s conversion capacity. He attributed this progress to the current administration’s Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI), which has helped raise the Nigerian Gas Vehicle population to approximately 50,000 vehicles and trucks.
“The NMDPRA will continue working with the PCNGI to expand CNG infrastructure in key cities like Lagos and Abuja, aiming for 100,000 conversions. We will also collaborate with states to promote the development of Nigeria Gas Vehicles (NGVs) in other regions,” he stated.
He further noted that the development of CNG as a viable alternative to petrol has been incentivized, with conversions and new vehicle purchases driving the Nigerian Gas Vehicle population to an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 vehicles and trucks, a number that continues to grow.
Additionally, with over $400 million invested in the construction of 86 new daughter stations and 65 mother stations, Nigeria’s refuelling capacity has increased from 20 to 56 stations.
Ahmed also shared that the NMDPRA, in partnership with PCNGI and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), plans to launch the NGV Monitoring System later this year. He emphasized that the NMDPRA is working closely with SON, the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), and the National Institute of Transportation Technology (NITT) to ensure that the growth of CNG mobility is achieved safely and sustainably.
