CNG Division – NIPCO PLC

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Division

In March 2007, NIPCO Plc made its presentation of its CNG project to the Inter-ministerial team of the Federal Government. In the same month FG accorded it’s approval to commence the proposed project at Benin City. NIPCO Gas was formed as Joint Venture Company between NIPCO and Nigerian Gas Company Limited (NGC) to implement the CNG project.

Currently NGC which is subsidiary of NNPC owns 55% of equity while NIPCO owns the balance 40% equity. NIPCO Gas has established 15 CNG running stations in Benin to provide an alternative for the Gasoline run automobiles. Presently it is in the process of constructing further 15 stations in and around Benin City. More than 5,600 vehicles have been converted to CNG for motorist in and around Benin City. As a result nations economy is strengthened as Gasoline imports are reduced.

Impressed with the impact of CNG in Benin, FG directed NIPCO Gas to expand its operations into other parts of the country. Hence a mega CNG station was commissioned at Ibafon, Ogun state, to convert automobiles to CNG as well as to supply nearby industries. Presently NIPCO Gas owns about 67 CNG cascades to ease CNG supply and distribution to industries in Ibafon axis. The Ibafon CNG station along with a city gas station has a larger compressing facility (12,000 scmt) for loading CNG to the nearby industries.

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FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

What is CNG and why should I go in for it? CNG stands for Compressed Natural Gas and is one of the most viable alternatives to “Petrol” i.e PMS.

Reasons for switching over to CNG, as an automotive fuel, are mainly:

Lower operation and maintenance cost: On mile to mile basis, CNG is drastically cheaper than petrol. Due to the absence of any lead or benzene content in CNG, the lead fouling of spark plugs is eliminated. CNG fuel systems are sealed, which prevents any spill or evaporation losses. There is an increase in the life of lubricating oils, as CNG does not contaminate and dilute the crankcase oil. Being a gaseous fuel, CNG mixes easily and evenly in air.

Environment friendly: The use of CNG as a vehicular fuel reduces vehicular exhaust emissions (Carbon Monoxide and Hydrocarbon) significantly. This in turn leads to a clean environment.

Flexibility and ease of use: The basic engine characteristics of a vehicle are retained while converting it to run on CNG. The vehicle therefore is capable of running either on Petrol or CNG at the flick of a switch on its dashboard.

What is the Fueling Process

The only major difference between a petrol vehicle and a CNG Vehicle is the fuel system. Natural gas is compressed to between 3,000 and 3,600 pounds per square inch (200 bar) and is stored on board the vehicle in cylinders installed in the rear, undercarriage, or on the roof. When natural gas is required by the engine, it leaves the cylinders, passes through a master manual shut-off valve and travels through a high-pressure fuel regulator located in the engine compartment.

The natural gas is injected at atmospheric pressure through a specially designed natural gas mixer where it is properly mixed with air. Natural gas then flows into the engine’s combustion chamber and is ignited to create the power required to drive the vehicle. Special solenoid-operated valves prevent the gas from entering the engine when it is shut off.

What about the vehicle’s power?

Petrol vehicles converted to natural gas are subject to a small power loss (about 10% to 15%) when running on natural gas; however, vehicles designed specifically to run on natural gas will have no loss of power and may even have greater power and efficiency. Natural gas has a 120 to 130 octane rating, compared with 87 to 96 octane rating of petrol.