Stakeholders in the marine sector have called on the Federal Government to factor them into the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) as the government moves to explore CNG an alternative fuel for powering vehicles in Nigeria.
They spoke at a stakeholders’ forum to enlighten inland waterways operators in Lagos on CNG powered boats and ferries.
The Chief Executive Officer, RIL Hydro Kraft’s Limited, Mr. LayiSolesi, was very optimistic that CNG was the game changer for the sector, as it would greatly helped to cushion the effect of high cost of fuel in Nigeria.
He added that CNG holds enormous benefits, not only for road transportation, but also for marine transportation.
“The event intends to intimate ferry or passenger boat operators on the availability of a solution that can ensure boats operating in Lagos and anywhere in the country utilise CNG. We have the exclusive distributor of Blue Gas Marine, a US company that is the manufacturer this product.
“As we all know the CNG is the trending topic on Nigeria to bring down fuel and to depart from the use of petrol and diesel. We also know the impact of the petrol subsidy removal.” he said.
He listed some of the benefits of CNG as fuel for marine propulsion systems as being clean and odourless, safer, less flammable, 50 per cent cheaper than petrol, environmental friendly among others.
The General Manager, Lagos State Waterway Authority (LASWA), Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel stated that the sector needed to consider other alternatives to petrol of which gas is one.
“This is a worthy initiative because they are helping stakeholders to understand what it is all about and we then ensure that these alternatives actually function. This is to enlighten people on this alternative and how they will serve us. Government has an enabling environment on how we can plug in into this to ensure these alternatives are provided,” he said.
