In a bid to steer the corporation towards sustainable energy sources and reduce operational costs, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Transportation, Saed Alkali, has initiated a move to transition Nigerian Railway Corporation locomotives from diesel to liquefied and compressed natural gases.
The ministry’s Director, Press and Public Relations, Olujimi Oyetom, stated this in a statement on Thursday.
It reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to provide Nigerians with efficient, affordable, and sustainable transportation given the recent removal of subsidy on fuel.
According to the statement, Alkali expressed optimism that this transition could lead to more efficient and possibly cheaper rail services for Nigerians, especially in the wake of the recent removal of fuel subsidies.
It said to expedite the process, the minister directed the immediate formation of a seven-member technical committee tasked with evaluating the feasibility and potential outcomes of retrofitting NRC’s locomotives with LNG-CNG technology.
Following the directive, the technical committee swiftly conducted evaluations, culminating in a visit to NRC’s workshop in Idu, Abuja, on March 13, 2024.
The committee’s findings confirmed the viability of retrofitting NRC’s locomotives with LNG-CNG technology.
The statement explained that the Minister emphasised the gradual transition from diesel to gas usage, starting with a 50-50 ratio and progressing to 30-70 and ultimately 0-100.