DPR Directs 9,000 Filling Stations To Install Gas Facilities

The Department of Petroleum Resources has ordered 9,000 filling stations nationwide to begin the installation of facilities for gas products.

In a statement on Wednesday, Sarki Auwalu, Director, DPR, said the development is aimed at improving the utilization of liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas and autogas as alternative fuels for Nigerians.

The Federal Government had announced its plans to introduce liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, as a cheaper and cleaner alternative forms of fuel.

The Committee on National Gas Expansion Programme had been assigned to ensure the effective implementation and take-off of this initiative.

The NGEP was inaugurated in January this year by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, in furtherance of the domestic gas expansion programme of the Federal Government.

According to Auwalu, the 9,000 outlets represent 27 per cent of the number of retail fuel stations in the first category identified by the DPR as stations that can implement the integration of gas facilities based on robust safety assessment and technical considerations.

DPR in the statement ordered all category one operators of filling stations to begin immediate installation and also update the licenses with the DPR.

“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,” Auwalu said.