Dangote backs Tinubu’s CNG drive, invests over $280m in trucks, infrastructure
… becomes the largest operator of CNG trucks in Nigeria
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
In a demonstration of its support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s CNG Initiative, which aims to provide cheaper and cleaner fuelling alternatives for all Nigerians, Dangote Cement Plc has made significant investments exceeding $280 million in compressed natural gas (CNG) technology and infrastructure.
President Tinubu, whose commitment to CNG deployment and clean energy is unmatched in Africa, has maintained his administration’s drive to create a conducive environment for private sector investments and expand Nigeria’s CNG infrastructure to enhance energy efficiency and drive economic growth. As part of this initiative, he ordered the distribution of 1 million free CNG conversion kits for commercial vehicles involved in transporting people, food, and goods.
At a recent event, the President emphasised the urgent need for Nigeria to utilise its vast natural gas resources in the transportation sector. He stated that CNG transportation is an economic necessity for Nigeria, signalling a significant shift in the country’s approach to public transportation and energy use.
“Utilising natural gas to power Nigeria’s transportation industry is the next way to go,” he stated.
On its part, the Dangote Cement said the over $280m investment not only solidifies its leadership in the CNG sector but also reflects its dedication to mitigating climate change and supporting a transition to a low-carbon economy.
Arvind Pathak, the Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, said the investment aims to acquire 100% CNG trucks as part of a long-term plan to transition its entire fleet to CNG.
This move marks a significant milestone in Dangote’s clean energy transition, with the objective of operating most of its fleet on CNG by mid-2026. As at October, the company has received its first batch of 1,500 mono-fuel CNG trucks while expecting additional 1,600 CNG trucks; totalling 3,100 before the end of the year.
Pathak stated, “By mid- 2026, Dangote Cement aims to operate a fleet predominantly powered by CNG. To facilitate this transformation, we are investing in expanding our CNG fuelling infrastructure, ensuring that our growing fleet has reliable access to CNG as our fuel.” He said plans are afoot to aggressively pursue this timeline of deployment, beginning from the first quarter of 2025. “We are keeping our eyes on the ball to ensure that we do not miss our target dates of full compliance”, he added.
Pathak said that the company’s CNG infrastructure investments have positively influenced Nigeria’s transition to cleaner fuels. He added that the CNG station at Obajana, capable of refuelling over 3,000 trucks, exemplifies this commitment, with a second station currently under development in Ibese to further support fleet operations.
President/Chief Executive, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote said the company’s investments in CNG are also in line with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, which aims for net-zero emissions by 2060.
“In this pursuit of transition to clean energy, we are optimistic of a remarkable accomplishment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as he has taken the lead in the nation’s drive towards energy efficiency. This presupposes private sector intervention to support this noble idea initiated by the President,” Dangote added.
He noted that the company’s early adoption of CNG has made it the largest operator of CNG trucks in Nigeria, emphasising that the initiative is a boost to President Tinubu’s quest towards enhancing the nation’s energy independence and contributing to a more secure energy future.
According to him: “We are now using CNG vehicles, especially with the new policy of the Federal Government, launched under the Renewed Hope Agenda by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We are committed to a cleaner and greener future.”
NCDMB ES, SPDC Officials Visit Brightwaters Energy, Laud firm’s Capabilities for Industry Projects
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, in company with senior officials of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on Tuesday undertook a tour of facilities at Brightwaters Energy Limited, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Executive Secretary NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe leading top oil & gas stakeholders on a facility visit to Brightwaters Energy in Port Harcourt on the 29th of January, 2025.
The tour to the company’s facilities at Choba, Port Harcourt, and Emohua in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State was a follow up to the NCDMB’s boss earlier visit to the company and some pipe coating facilities in May 2024.
At that visit he pledged the Board’s support for local service companies, giving them opportunities in the oil and gas industry and creating jobs in the economy. The latest visit was to assess Brightwaters Energy’s upgrade of its technical capabilities, which would position them for upcoming industry projects.
Speaking ahead at the visit, Engr. Ogbe conveyed the Board’s determination to ensure that capabilities of local oil and gas service companies are known and adequately utilised by operating companies in the industry to boost local content and provide employment, in line with the economic aspirations of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
He recalled that Brightwaters had performed well in the execution of projects in the exploration and production segment of the industry over the years with a clientele that included SPDC and Chevron Nigeria Limited, among other major oil and gas operators.
He was convinced that the company has the capacity required for key scopes in upcoming industry projects.
He charged operating oil and gas companies to always support qualified service companies, while ensuring that the best quality service is delivered at all times and on schedule.
In opening remarks at the event, the Community and Corporate Affairs Manager of Brightwaters, Mr. Solomon Aluge, confirmed that the firm had been engaging the team from SPDC and was equipped to carry out heavy or light fabrication works.
He indicated that Brightwaters has carried out many onshore and offshore pipeline engineering and installation works for various clients.
Elaborating on the scope of operations of his company in the oil and gas sector, he pointed out that Brightwaters is “mobilizing for Chevron and Tulcan pipeline works” at the moment.
Earlier in welcome remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Brightwaters, Mr. Scott Gregory, expressed happiness at the presence of the Executive Secretary, Engr. Ogbe, and the representatives of SPDC at the meeting, assuring all that the company has enormous capabilities for services in the oil and gas industry.
He provided technical details of a number of projects executed by the company offshore and onshore in its many years of operation in Nigeria, noting that some of the upcoming field projects were well within the company’s competencies.
Among key facilities visited in the tour were a blast furnace, where the process of smelting was demonstrated with hot compressed air being blasted into a furnace from below, and a multipurpose offshore construction vessel known as Sea Horizon Derrick Lay Barge, with a heavy-lift capacity of 1,320 tons.
Marine construction activities performed by the vessel, according to the company, include “installation of rigid and flexible pipelines, risers and umbilicals [flexible hoses that connect surface equipment to subsea equipment].”
In his comments after the facility tour, the General Manager Local Content Shell, Mr. Lanre Olawuyi conveyed the company’s good impressions with the facilities and capabilities of Brightwaters Energy.
He affirmed that the technical teams would review their reports and take decisions how to engage the company in some of their upcoming projects. He expressed delight that the company had upgraded its facilities since the last visit in May 2024, and expressed hope that facility would attract more patronage from the oil industry so it would bounce back to its former glory.
On the entourage of the Executive Secretary were the Director, Project Certification and Authorisation Division (PCAD), Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, Deputy Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, a technical staff in the Executive Secretary’s office, Mr. Ilu Ozekhome.
BUA has commenced the development of a 700-ton-per-day (700TPD), 45mmscf Mini-LNG Plant with a groundbreaking ceremony held today at Ajaokuta, Kogi State.
L-R: Nasir Giwa, Refinery Coordinator, BUA Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd.; Ahmed Usman Ododo, Executive Governor, Kogi State; Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, Government Relations, BUA Group; Rt. Hon. Ekperikpo Ekpo, Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas); Chief Pius Akinyelure, Chairman, NNPC Board; and Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, Honourable Minister of Steel Devt. during the groundbreaking ceremony.
Present at the event is the Founder/Executive Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, with the Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo; NNPC Board Chairman, Chief Pius Akinyelure; GCEO NNPC, Mele Kyari; Authority Executive of NMDPRA, Engr. Farook Ahmed and other eminent dignitaries including various stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, the Founder/Executive Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu said in his speech: “This LNG plant, which we are doing the groundbreaking today, also embodies that spirit. Upon completion, it will ensure that BUA’s captive power plants are provided with much-needed gas with limited supply downtime, thus enhancing our production and manufacturing capacity while positioning BUA to be fully integrated into the value chain of our energy supply operations”.
He stated that the project is a win-win for Nigeria and is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s vision and promoting gas usage for cleaner energy. NNPC will provide critical gas feedstock for a 10% stake in the plant, and BUA will provide 100% financing while driving execution. This is a testament that public-private partnerships under the right government policies can deliver transformative results.
The BUA LNG plant will ensure cost efficiency, supply stability, and sustainability for BUA’s operations while reinforcing Nigeria’s industrial future. Covering a land area of about 16 hectares, it will primarily serve BUA’s captive power plants across its manufacturing businesses in Nigeria and provide gas for other uses within the country. This is geared towards operational efficiency in alignment with the national energy transition initiative.
The GCEO NNPC, Mele K. Kyari, in his speech stated that it is rightly timed to have these 5 mini-LNG plants in Kogi State of which BUA LNG is one, considering its strategic location at the crossroads of Nigeria’s North and South, in Ajaokuta, Kogi State.
The signing ceremony for the project, which held within the week at NGML headquarters in Abuja, was attended by BUA’s Group Executive Director, Kabiru Rabiu, Chief Legal Officer, Oluseye Alayande, and NGML’s leadership team led by Justin Ezeala.
NCDMB ES, SPDC Officials Visit Brightwaters Energy, Laud firm’s Capabilities for Industry Projects
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, in company with senior officials of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on Tuesday undertook a tour of facilities at Brightwaters Energy Limited, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Executive Secretary NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe leading top oil & gas stakeholders on a facility visit to Brightwaters Energy in Port Harcourt on the 29th of January, 2025.
The tour to the company’s facilities at Choba, Port Harcourt, and Emohua in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State was a follow up to the NCDMB’s boss earlier visit to the company and some pipe coating facilities in May 2024.
At that visit he pledged the Board’s support for local service companies, giving them opportunities in the oil and gas industry and creating jobs in the economy.
The latest visit was to assess Brightwaters Energy’s upgrade of its technical capabilities, which would position them for upcoming industry projects. Speaking ahead at the visit, Engr. Ogbe conveyed the Board’s determination to ensure that capabilities of local oil and gas service companies are known and adequately utilised by operating companies in the industry to boost local content and provide employment, in line with the economic aspirations of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
He recalled that Brightwaters had performed well in the execution of projects in the exploration and production segment of the industry over the years with a clientele that included SPDC and Chevron Nigeria Limited, among other major oil and gas operators.
He was convinced that the company has the capacity required for key scopes in upcoming industry projects.
He charged operating oil and gas companies to always support qualified service companies, while ensuring that the best quality service is delivered at all times and on schedule.
In opening remarks at the event, the Community and Corporate Affairs Manager of Brightwaters, Mr. Solomon Aluge, confirmed that the firm had been engaging the team from SPDC and was equipped to carry out heavy or light fabrication works.
He indicated that Brightwaters has carried out many onshore and offshore pipeline engineering and installation works for various clients.
Elaborating on the scope of operations of his company in the oil and gas sector, he pointed out that Brightwaters is “mobilizing for Chevron and Tulcan pipeline works” at the moment.
Earlier in welcome remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Brightwaters, Mr. Scott Gregory, expressed happiness at the presence of the Executive Secretary, Engr. Ogbe, and the representatives of SPDC at the meeting, assuring all that the company has enormous capabilities for services in the oil and gas industry.
He provided technical details of a number of projects executed by the company offshore and onshore in its many years of operation in Nigeria, noting that some of the upcoming field projects were well within the company’s competencies.
Among key facilities visited in the tour were a blast furnace, where the process of smelting was demonstrated with hot compressed air being blasted into a furnace from below, and a multipurpose offshore construction vessel known as Sea Horizon Derrick Lay Barge, with a heavy-lift capacity of 1,320 tons.
Marine construction activities performed by the vessel, according to the company, include “installation of rigid and flexible pipelines, risers and umbilicals [flexible hoses that connect surface equipment to subsea equipment].”
In his comments after the facility tour, the General Manager Local Content Shell, Mr. Lanre Olawuyi conveyed the company’s good impressions with the facilities and capabilities of Brightwaters Energy.
He affirmed that the technical teams would review their reports and take decisions how to engage the company in some of their upcoming projects.
He expressed delight that the company had upgraded its facilities since the last visit in May 2024, and expressed hope that facility would attract more patronage from the oil industry so it would bounce back to its former glory.
On the entourage of the Executive Secretary were the Director, Project Certification and Authorisation Division (PCAD), Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, Deputy Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, a technical staff in the Executive Secretary’s office, Mr. Ilu Ozekhome.