Abuja: An Energy Expert, Mr. Quadri Fatai, has advocated winding down of diesel-powered engines in the country to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) and fugitive methane emissions by 60 percent. Fatai, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Alfa Design Nigeria Limited, provided this advice during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Fatai noted that converting diesel-powered engines to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or transitioning to alternative cleaner and greener energy technologies would halt carbon soot emissions from diesel engines and ensure energy security. He mentioned that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) guidelines on GHG emissions aim to reduce the environmental and social impacts caused by emissions of components of natural gas, including methane.
The expert emphasized that adopting cleaner technology could significantly mitigate carbon output, particularly carbon soot emitted by fuel engines, which contribute to environmental pollution and health risks. He highlighted the Nigerian government's pledge to cut methane emissions and eliminate flaring by 2030, alongside phasing out diesel-fired engines to prevent carbon soot formation.
Fatai pointed out the economic benefits of transitioning to CNG, given the high cost of diesel and the abundance of alternative energy sources like gas in the country. He advocated for a collective effort to implement this alternative energy solution promptly to reduce environmental impact.
Additionally, Fatai announced that Alfa Design Limited, a leading oil and gas company, is set to initiate the conversion of diesel-powered engines to CNG in Nigeria to promote cleaner and affordable energy.
NAN recalls that Nigeria committed to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in September 2016 and has since launched several initiatives to reduce emissions across various economic sectors. As part of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement, Nigeria pledged to cut GHG emissions by 47 percent by 2030, contingent on international support. This pledge was reinforced by the signing of the country's first climate bill following the UN Climate Change Conference of Parties 26 in Glasgow in 2021, with ambitious global net zero targets set for 2060.
To meet its emission reduction targets, Nigeria's key abatement measures include the elimination of routine gas flaring and the control of fugitive emissions and leakages, as outlined in the NUPRC operators' guidelines. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)