The Federal Government of Nigeria has intensified efforts to increase gas utilization in the automobile and domestic sectors by granting an Approval To Construct (ATC) license to Noretek Energy Limited for building a 500 metric tonne autogas plant in Abuja.
Ogbugo Ukoha, Executive Director at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) stated that similar facilities are under construction in Lagos and Port Harcourt. The new license will establish two gas plants in Gwagwalada, Abuja.
This aligns with the Federal Government’s goal to optimize Nigeria’s over 209 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves. The designation of gas as a transition fuel and the deregulation of the PMS market further signal the priority on gas utilization.
Across Nigeria, several autogas infrastructure projects are upcoming – a large plant in Apapa, Lagos, another in Port Harcourt, and the newly licensed 500MT facility in Abuja. Such investments will boost nationwide supply of cleaner, cheaper autogas.
Edward Traore, Managing Director, Noretek Energy, noted this is the first step toward their planned expansion of autogas services and infrastructure regionally. Noretek aims to spearhead CNG refuelling infrastructure and CNG conversion solutions for a reliable, sustainable energy supply.