- Launches New Monitoring System
By kawaekwune Jeffrey
The Federal Government has reacted to a CNG tank explosion which occurred at a NIPCO CNG station in Aduwawa, Benin City, the capital of Edo State.
The Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI), in a statement issued on Thursday, described the explosion of a CNG-powered vehicle at a NIPCO station in Benin City, Edo State, as “unfortunate.”
In the statement, the PCNGI disclosed that the vehicle involved in the explosion was illegally modified and not approved for use with compressed natural gas (CNG).
The New Diplomat reports that a CNG tank explosion occurred at a NIPCO CNG Station at Ikpoba Hill in Benin City on Wednesday, October 16.
Although no lives were lost, several people were injured in the explosion. Authorities, including the police and regulatory bodies, have begun a thorough investigation into the incident.
Reacting, the PCNGI said: “A close examination of the cylinder in question in Benin City shows it was welded and modified and not approved for use with CNG.
“The police, regulatory authorities, and management of NIPCO are undertaking a painstaking investigation of the incident, and we are coordinating with them.”
The PCNGI emphasized the importance of safe handling of all hydrocarbons and highlighted the impending launch of the Nigeria Gas Vehicle Monitoring System, which aims to address such incidents.
The statement added: “Only accredited conversion centres must be patronized, and safe handling of CNG, just like petrol, ensures the safety of all.”
It would be recalled that the federal government has been advocating wider adoption of compressed natural gas (CNG) as an alternative to increasingly expensive petrol.
Several experts have opined that the CNG conversion when properly executed, can be safe.
However, some individuals had raised concerns about what they described as a recognized risk of pressure explosions due to CNG being compressed.
