The Nigerian Federal Government will kick-start the distribution of compressed natural gas (CNG) as a key transport fuel by the end of 2021, as part of its strategy to gradually replace high-sulfur gasoline.
On Tuesday, the Federal Government launched its National Gas Expansion Program, which focuses on the distribution of CNG and liquefied petroleum gas across gas stations operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
“The [Muhammadu] Buhari administration is focused on developing the country’s natural gas resources, as part of the government bid to key into the global shift from crude oil to gas,” said H.E. Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources. “The plan to develop CNG into alternative automobile fuel will also afford Nigerians cheaper, cleaner and additional fuel.”
The country plans to increase its domestic gas supply, taking advantage of abundant natural gas resources. The NNPC has estimated that domestic demand for natural gas will rise from current levels of 1.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf) to 7.4 Bcf by 2027.