James Emejo in Abuja
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has officially released 80 approved standards for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for road vehicles and related appliances to the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI).
The development marked the beginning of the journey towards safer, more reliable, cheaper, environmentally sustainable, and alternative fuel utilisation across for road vehicles and other CNG-related appliances in the country.
Standards and Guidelines for CNG road vehicles and related appliances were approved by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite.
The move further reiterates SON’s commitment to excellence and innovation in line with international best practices which had culminated in developing and approving these standards.
A statement issued yesterday, by SON’s Director, Public Relations, Mrs. Foluso Bolaji, stated that the landmark regulations represented a significant milestone in the organisation’s efforts to promote safety and quality in the energy sector.
The CNG is a clean and efficient alternative to traditional fuels, with applications ranging from transportation to industrial processes.
However, its safe and effective utilisation requires adherence to rigorous standards that address production, storage, transportation and utilisation.
The PCNGI is a component of the palliative intervention of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and one of the many steps the president had taken to ensure that every Nigerian enjoys his Renewed Hope agenda, Foluso added.
Essentially, the PCNGI consists of a committee comprising relevant regulatory agencies such as, the National Mid-Stream Down-stream Petroleum Regulatory Authority
(NMDPRA), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Ministry of Finance Incorporation (MOFI) and other key stakeholders.
Every regulatory agency is saddled with the responsibility within its framework and tasked to quickly deliver hope to Nigerians by ensuring that the country is ready to include CNG as an alternative fuel for vehicle propulsion.
The standards encompass a wide range of technical specifications and requirements, including CNG Conversion kit, standards for electrical connections and vehicle diagnostics, standards for road-worthiness and Vehicle safety, standards for CNG storage vessels, and standards for CNG refueling stations, as well as guideline for installation of specific components to support the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) for vehicle propulsion.
The standards were a collaborative effort, among industry experts, regulators, and stakeholders from across the country.
The apex standards regulatory agency stated that adherence to the standards will provide for enhanced safety for consumers, workers, and the environment, improved reliability and efficiency in CNG operations, facilitated interoperability and compatibility within the CNG ecosystem, and increased confidence among consumers, investors, and policymakers.
The statement added, “As SON releases these standards, we call upon all stakeholders to embrace them wholeheartedly and to prioritise their effective implementation.
“By doing so, we can assure that the utilisation of CNG meets the highest standards of safety, quality and environmental sustainability and will provide the best alternative for fuel utilisation.”
