BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR–The federal government through the Department of Petroleum Resources has directed 9,000 filling stations across the country to begin the installation of facilities for gas products.
According to statement signed by the Director, DPR, Mr Sarki Auwalu that this was aimed at improve the utilization of liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas and autogas as alternative fuels for Nigerians.
He noted that the 9,000 outlets represent 27% of the number of retail fuel stations in the first category, and identified by the DPR as stations that can implement the integration of gas facilities based on robust safety assessment and technical considerations.
The statement thus reads: “All operators of retail outlets in categories two and three whose facilities do not meet the minimum requirements or do not have sufficient land area are encouraged to apply for stand-alone LPG, CNG, LNG or autogas facilities (full-scale or modular) under an incentivized regulatory regime.”
“The DPR has also approved the deployment of skid-mounted modularized/containerized LPG/autogas handling systems and other intrinsically safe systems for gas storage and handling to promote affordability, accessibility, and availability of the products.”