Gladys Nweke
The Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, has tasked motorists in the country to key into the green economy by converting their automobiles from driving on premium motor spirit, also known as fuel, to drive on Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG.
Head, Gas Monitoring and Regulations, DPR Port Harcourt, Patrick Emordi, told our correspondent exclusively that using LPG, which he referred to as ‘AutoGas’ for automobiles and other vehicles was much cheaper and environment-friendly than using PMS or AGO.
Emordi explained that with Auto-gas, Nigerians will not need to worry about fuel subsidy and pump price of fuel since LPG would serve as a better alternative.
DPR, also said the use of add-on (gas refilling points) inside filling stations have been banned by DPR and will become effective from December 2020.
He said already existing add-ons will only be made to serve as Auto-gas stations, while domestic LPG users will have to fill their cylinders straight from gas plants and not inside petrol stations from 2021.
“We are trying to educate the public on Autogas, that is, using LPG to drive your cars. Presently, DPR has banned the usage of add-on in filling stations effective 31st December 2020 and we are now encouraging operators to now go into autogas.
“Gas is very cheap, using autogas in your cars is cheaper than using fuel. The LPG you will get for 5,000 can last you for one month whereas, N12,000 worth of fuel cannot last for a week. Autogas is cheap and also environmental friendly
“Nigeria is more of a gas country than crude oil, so when people start using gas, the subsidy paid on fuel will be done away with because people will now have alternative to use LPG to drive their cars. It is because of lack of alternative that people are afraid that if subsidy is removed, fuel price will increase.
“We have generators, forklifts, trucks and cars that uses LPG, there is more benefit for using auto-gas than using PMS or AGO. So we are encouraging Nigerians to convert their cars to autogas because it is better for them and their pockets”
