Abuja: Alfa Designs Nigeria Ltd., a prominent oil and gas company, has announced plans to deploy Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cascades to improve its availability across the nation. The initiative aims to address the ongoing concerns about CNG accessibility and the persistent queues at refilling stations.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Alfa Designs, Mr. Quadri Fatai, revealed that the company is finalizing strategies to tackle the issues hindering CNG availability. Fatai emphasized the importance of proximity in ensuring widespread access to CNG.
CNG cascades, which are interconnected high-pressure gas cylinders, facilitate the efficient storage and transportation of CNG. Alfa Designs has procured its first batch of 10 CNG cascades, which will be deployed after receiving the necessary certifications. The company is collaborating with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and a third-party inspection company to ensure proper inspection, certification, and licensing of the cylinders.
To streamline distribution, Alfa Designs plans to use a 100 percent CNG-powered truck equipped with a self-loader for dispensing CNG across different areas. Each CNG cascade has a capacity of 450 kilograms, with the total weight reaching three tonnes, allowing for effective storage and distribution.
The initiative comes in response to motorists' complaints about CNG unavailability and prolonged refueling delays. Concerns have also been raised regarding the safety, economic implications, and compliance with global regulations related to CNG conversion and logistics.
Fatai highlighted the importance of continuous integrity checks on LPG and CNG cylinders by the Nigeria Institute of Standards and Standards Organisation of Nigeria to ensure safety. He also warned against the local fabrication of CNG kits and cylinders by unqualified individuals, noting the explosive potential of improperly handled gas cylinders.
The deployment of CNG cascades by Alfa Designs is expected to significantly improve the accessibility and convenience of CNG for consumers across Nigeria.