The Federal Authorities, by the Minister of Transport, Stated Alkali, has moved to transition the locomotives of the Nigerian Railway Firm from diesel to liquefied pure gasoline and compressed pure gasoline in a bid to steer the corporate in the direction of renewable vitality sources and cut back operational prices .
This was disclosed in an announcement signed on Thursday by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Olujimi Oyetomi.
Alkali is claimed to have reiterated the need of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration to offer Nigerians with environment friendly, inexpensive and sustainable transportation, given the current abolition of subsidy on gasoline.
On Tuesday, March 12, 2024, the De-Sadel consortium offered the LNG-CNG various for joint deliberation by the Ministry of Transport and the NRC on the ministry's headquarters.
Alkali expressed optimism that this transition may result in more practical, environment friendly and probably cheaper rail companies for Nigerians, particularly within the wake of the current abolition of gasoline subsidies.
To expedite the method, Alkali directed the fast formation of a seven-member technical committee charged with evaluating the feasibility and attainable outcomes of retrofitting NRC's locomotives with LNG-CNG expertise.
The committee was given a window of seven to 14 days to make suggestions.
“It’s the want of our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to offer an environment friendly, inexpensive and sustainable transportation system for the folks of this nice nation and I’m certain this might go a good distance in lowering the transportation prices,” Alkali mentioned.
He discovered De-Sadel Firm's proposal affordable to retrofit their current LNG-CNG kits to NRC locomotives without charge to the federal government and to offer alternative within the occasion of injury.
Alkali, eager to proceed with the retrofitting of an NRC locomotive by the De-Sadel consortium, tasked the Everlasting Secretary, Olufemi Oloruntola, with a joint workforce of mechanical engineers from the Ministry of Transport, NRC and the De- Sadel Consortium to be put collectively.
He emphasised the gradual transition from diesel to gasoline consumption, beginning with a 50-50 ratio and shifting to 30-70 and at last 0-100.
“Instantly after this interactive session, a committee will probably be shaped, which is able to start deliberations and discussions on the ministry headquarters. They need to advise and probably have a gasoline locomotive prepared for a take a look at drive inside a really brief time,” the minister indicated.
Following the directive, the Technical Committee performed speedy assessments, culminating in a go to to the NRC workshop in Idu, Abuja, on March 13, 2024.
The committee's findings confirmed the feasibility of retrofitting NRC's locomotives with LNG-CNG expertise.
Managing Director of the De-Sadel Consortium, Sam Uko, underlined the advantages of adopting LNG-CNG expertise, together with price financial savings and prolonged engine life.
Uko revealed that the Consortium has already put in 50 gas-powered locomotives and is prepared for deployment, with a dedication to provide gasoline for 5 years to deal with considerations over gasoline shortage.
Uko clarified that the implementation technique of changing to a dual-fuel locomotive shouldn’t be thought of a conversion or modification of the engines.
Along with retrofitting NRC's locomotives, the De-Sadel Consortium additionally proposed safety installations on the nation's rail corridors, a system that deploys real-time monitoring for the prepare automobiles and the rail traces to discourage vandals and assaults.
He states that the expertise permits a lot better security for rail transport, in order that the trains can run 24/7, growing NRC's turnover from gasoline consumption and security.
As well as, the De-Sadel Consortium has proposed further safety installations alongside rail corridors to extend security and forestall vandalism.
Uko emphasised that real-time monitoring programs would deter assaults, permitting trains to run 24/7, growing NRC's income from gasoline use.
