Industries save $30m on natural gas as alternative source for Power generation

Amid the growing challenge in energy generation in the country, the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) over diesel has saved industries an estimated 120 million litres of diesel at the cost of over 30million US Dollars, and in effect reduce CO2 emissions of 76 million Kg.

With industries expending over 40 percent of its total operational costs on energy generation which have in turn resulted in rising price of goods and services, industry experts believe compressed natural gas is the way to go.

Deepak Khilnani the CEO of Powergas observes that CNG still offers a significant cost saving measure compared to diesel. The fuel price alone is about half of diesel. Natural gas is also a much cleaner fuel than diesel, reducing maintenance costs and wear and tear on industrial machinery.

Nigeria ranks among the ten top countries with a rich natural gas deposit which industry watchers believe should serve the country domestic demand effectively.

Khilnani while speaking on the recent gas shortage in the country disclosed that Industries stand to save as the positive result of the use of Powergas CNG keeps increasing.

He said that the company’s strategic alliances with downstream gas suppliers in Nigeria such as Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG), Nigerian Gas Company (NGC), Niger Delta Petroleum Resources (NDPR) and other Nigerian marginal field operators creates a steady and balanced supply of gas to all compression stations, which gives it unending supply of CNG to its consumers across the country.

According to him, “Powergas has long been promoting natural gas as a preferable substitute to conventional liquid fuels; being cleaner and cheaper than petrol or diesel, natural gas offers both financial savings and environmental benefits to our customers.

“Sustainability at Powergas spreads further than simply delivering clean power with our CNG. It is a responsibility to help improve communities throughout the country through both our commercial offering of clean and cost effective power solution, as well as reducing emission, by filling this natural gas void in the Nigerian CNG market, through our innovative ‘Gas on Wheels’ solution as an alternative to pipeline gas supply for customers across the country.”

On ongoing project, Deepak hinted that Powergas is building one of West Africa’s first mini LNG facilities in partnership with EAJV Technology, a leading Canadian LNG specialist. The four-train plant in Rivers State is expected to be operational by mid 2017, with a total production capacity of over 385,000 scm per day.

To him, “We understand the difficult market conditions for industries and national power generation both the economic uncertainty coupled with the current gas crisis. Powergas is fully committed to finding power and gas solutions to our customers and is continuing to invest in new off pipeline compression and liquefaction plants to meet additional demand,”

KELECHI EWUZIE