The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has officially released 80 approved standards for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for road vehicles and related appliances to the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative(PCNGI).

A statement by the Director, Public Relations, Mrs. Foluso Bolaji said that the approval marks the beginning of the journey towards safer, more reliable, cheaper, environmentally sustainable, and most importantly alternative fuel utilization across our nation for road vehicles and other CNG-related appliances.

Bolaji said developing and approving the standards is in line with SON’s commitment to excellence and innovation which coincides with international best practices and representing a significant milestone in our efforts to promote safety and quality in the energy sector.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is a clean and efficient alternative to traditional fuels, with applications ranging from transportation to industrial processes. However, its safe and effective utilization requires adherence to rigorous standards that address production, storage, transportation, and utilization.

Recall that as part of cushioning the impact of fuel subsidy removal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration had initiated the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI), a component of the palliative intervention.

This brought about the inauguration of PCNGI through a committee of relevant regulatory agencies such as, the National Mid-Stream Down-stream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Ministry of Finance Incorporation (MOFI) and other key stakeholders.

With a mandate given to every agency within it’s framework to ensure that Nigeria is ready to include CNG as an alternative fuel for vehicle propulsion, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria developed Eighty (80) Standards and Guidelines for CNG road vehicles and related appliances has gotten the approval of the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite.

The Eighty (80) standards encompass a wide range of technical specifications and requirements, including: CNG Conversion kit, Standards for electrical connections and vehicle Diagnostics, Standards for Road-worthiness and Vehicle safety, Standards for CNG storage Vessels, Standards for CNG refueling Stations, and Guideline for installation of specific components to support the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) for Vehicle propulsion.

The Director said adherence to the standards offers numerous benefits which includes: Enhanced safety for consumers, workers, and the environment, Improved reliability and efficiency in CNG operations, Facilitated interoperability and compatibility within the CNG ecosystem, Increased confidence among consumers, investors, and policymakers.

Meanwhile, SON has called upon all stakeholders to embrace the standards wholeheartedly and to prioritize their effective implementation, with the assurance that the utilization of CNG meets the highest standards of safety, quality and environmental sustainability and will provide the best alternative for fuel utilization.