Fuel cost: Firm introduces gas for boat operators

Blue Gas Marine (BGM), a US based company, has introduced Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to passenger boats and ferries operators to help cushion the effect of high cost of fuel in Nigeria.

Mr Layi Solesi, Chief Executive Officer, RIL Hydro Kraft’s Ltd., a customs marine grade aluminium platforms service provider and exclusive distributor/strategic partner of the BGM, on Wednesday in Lagos, said that CNG was the game changer for the sector.

According to Solesi, CNG holds enormous benefits, not only for road transportation, but also for marine transportation.

“The event intends to intimate ferry or passenger boat operators on the availability of a solution that can ensure boats operating in Lagos and anywhere in the country utilise CNG.

“We have the exclusive distributor of Blue Gas Marine, a US company that is the manufacturer this product.

“As we all know the CNG is the trending topic in Nigeria to bring down fuel and to depart from the use of petrol and diesel. We also know the impact of the petrol subsidy removal.” he said.

He listed some of the benefits of CNG as fuel for marine propulsion systems as; being clean and odourless, safer, less flammable, 50 per cent cheaper than petrol, environmental friendly and others.

He pointed out that integrating the marine transportation sub-sector into the Federal and State Governments sponsored transport sector targeted CNG adoption Intervention programme would help alleviate the impact of the PMS subsidy removal on transport operators.

“It is noteworthy that the Lagos State Government has introduced some new CNG powered buses into its BRT transport system, while about 1,000 CNG buses are being expected from the NEC transport sector targeted palliative arrangements.

“Consequently, it is a very smart business case for Lagos State Government to extend the adoption of CNG to the inland water transportation sector of Lagos state.

“There is a far more compelling case for the marine transportation sub sector to be integrated into the Presidential CNG Initiative,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, General Manager, Lagos State Waterway Authority (LASWA) noted that the significance of the stakeholders programme cannot be over emphasised as the intiative was a worthy one.

“As you know the fuel subsidy has brought about an increase in petrol and you know boats generally rely on petrol.

“This means that we need to consider other alternatives to petrol of which gas is one, electric is another and so it’s about planning and if we fail to plan,we are bound to fail.

“This is a worthy initiative because they are calling stakeholders for them to understand what it is all about and together we then ensure that these alternatives actually function,” he said.

Emmanuel noted that it was one thing to bring a novel idea, but if the benefactors are not aware or understand the intiative, it would be a waste of time, so the stakeholder’s forum was very important.

“This is to enlighten people on this alternative and how the alternatives will best serve us. Government has an enabling environment on how we can plug this to ensure these alternatives are provided,” he said.

NEWSVERGE recalls that in August 2023, President Bola Tinubu, approved the establishment of Presidential Compressed Gas Initiative.

Announcing the approval, Mr Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, said the initiative would ease the impact of the petrol subsidy removal on Nigerians by reducing energy costs.