Following a directive by the federal government to fuel stations to introduce the use of autogas in vehicles, oil marketers have commenced the establishment of autogas conversion centres in their filling stations. The directive indicates that the exercise would be conducted in 12 states across the contry as a pilot test case.
Operators in the oil sector under the supervision of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) disclosed on Wednesday that the use of autogas in vehicles would minimize the demand pressure on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) – Petrol, noting that this is another reason why marketers decided to start creating conversion centres in their filling stations.
The Programme Manager, National Liquefied Petroleum Gas Expansion Implementation Plan, Dayo Adeshina, disclosed that the LPG component in the autogas initiative would be implemented in the 12 pilot states simultaneously. He listed the 12 states as Lagos, Ogun, Bauchi, Gombe, FCT, Niger, Katsina, Sokoto, Ebonyi, Enugu, Delta and Bayelsa.
While reacting to the directives by the federal government, the National Public Relations Officer, IPMAN, Chief Ukadike Chinedu, stated that the policy is a good decision and is achievable because industry operators are ready to key into it. He expressed further that the entire world is moving towards the use of gas because it is more environmentally friendly than petrol or diesel. It is thus, pertinent that Nigerians should key into it because, in the western world, gas-powered vehicles are more on the streets.
He further admonished the Federal Government to create an enabling environment that would ensure that Nigerians adopt the use of LPG and Compressed Natural Gas in vehicles.
However, the National LPG Expansion Implementation Plan is being addressed by the Office of the Vice President and has been making moves to ensure the usage of gas both for cooking in automobiles and for other purposes.
