Powergas, ETEFA projects to save Nigeria $2.5 billion yearly through gas-fired city buses

The Clean & Environmentally Sustainable Transportation (“CEST”) Programme under the Gas Flare Monetisation Projects, a strategic alliance between Nigeria’s biggest Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) distributor and pioneer in “Virtual Gas Pipeline Supply”, POWERGAS, and the Austrian clean tech company ETEFA have Introduce gas-fired city buses for public transport.

The introduction of the gas-fired city buses is expected to save Nigeria over US$ 2.5 billion per year by reducing fuels costs in the transportation and power generation sector by over 30%.

L-R: Commercial Counsellor, Austrian Embassy, Guido Stock; Chief Executive Officer Austrian Technologies Nigeria Limited, Johann Rieger; Managing Director, Test and Training International (TTI), Franz Wurz; Lagos State Sector Commander, FRSC, Hyginus Omeje and Director, Powergas, Sumeet Singh during a business networking conference on two new investment and technology transfer opportunities hosted by the Austrian Embassy in partnership of Powergas and ETEFA in Lagos.

This was revealed during the ETEFA and Powergas Nigeria press briefing and business networking cocktail event hosted by the Commercial Counsellor of the Austrian Embassy, Guido Stock, as part of the CEST program for Nigeria (Clean, Economic and Safe Transportation), with the support of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) in Lagos.

The development comes as Austrian Technologies Nigeria Limited (ATN) and Test- & Training International (TTI) - the world leading drivers’ safety training company - have partnered to introduce world class Drivers’ Safety Training and Certification (DSTC) for commercial and professional drivers in Nigeria.

Natural Gas Flaring is one of the biggest environmental disasters of Nigeria. Annually over 7 billion Standard Cubic Meter (SCM ) of Natural Gas is being flared in Nigeria, leading to casualties of up to 2,500 individuals in the Niger Delta Region (due to gas flare related pollution & emissions). Gas flare emissions are contributing to 20% of the entire Greenhouse Gases (GHG) of the country and are causing a massive waste of energy and financial resources.

In his welcome address, the Director, Powergas, Sumeet Singh reiterated the company’s commitment to positively contributing to the clean environment of Nigeria. According to him, Nigeria’s annual diesel importation is the same as the Natural Gas being flared. “We know that Diesel imports are US Dollar dependent, hence increasing the cost of fuel and decreasing the country’s scarce forex reserves.

Natural Gas on the other hand is one of the most environmentally friendly energy sources. With abundant reserves of 188 tcf (Trillion Cubic Feet), Nigeria has the largest gas reserves in Africa. As a domestically available natural resource, effective utilization is extremely important for import substitution (of liquid fuels) and forex savings. Gas Flare Reduction Program sponsored Projects can clean and process flare gas into Natural Gas, along with other by-products like Propane, Butane, LPG, etc.

Sumeet bared that, as a company, we believe that if all of Nigeria’s Gas Flare is captured and processed – it can power up to 200,000 city buses (public transport) or 200,000 trucks (commercial transport), or even double Nigeria’s power generation capacity, while significantly improving the quality of the air (lower carbon & particulate emissions). Introduction of gas-fired city buses for public transport would significantly lower ticket prices for passengers. This would especially have a positive impact on the lower income populace who spend up to 40% of their monthly income on public transport.

In his keynote speech, the CEO ETEFA GmbH, Johann Rieger, explained that CEST Program’s targets include improving environmental and health conditions by reduction of emissions, lowering the cost of public and commercial transportation, while fostering local talent employment with technology transfer and strategic knowledge sharing.

According to Johann, in order to show the full potential of the economies of the CNG city buses, ETEFA developed together with leading European partners a high quality 12-meter CNG City Bus prototype for the special needs and infrastructure requirements in Nigeria. The prototype is currently built, and local testing shall start with strategic local partners mid-2019.

He explained that Powergas will provide all the necessary infrastructure for supply of flare gas based CNG and ETEFA will supply highly efficient gas engines and associated technology.

The bus will especially fulfil Euro 5 / EEV emission standards and European norms in economics and sustainability with a targeted lifespan of a minimum of 15 years, low operating costs and costs of investment close to the level of Chinese buses.

ETEFA is ready to support local manufacturers with transfer of technology to manufacture this world class buses in future under license directly in Nigeria. Depending on test results and respective orders, local serial production could be started by one of the well-established car manufacturers in Nigeria already in 2020.

This will create additionally hundreds of high skilled working places in manufacturing and maintenance of buses, and support local partners to build a sustainable, cost efficient and clean transportation platform in the country and dramatically reduce damages to the local environment and health of people.

According to the organisers of the drivers’ safety training programme, DSTC will be implemented in collaboration with Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC). The main objective is to develop a network of drivers’ training tracks with the participation of local investors throughout the country. Driving instructors, fleet managers, and drivers will be trained, evaluated, and certified; each in tailor-made programs on state-of-the-art safety training tracks, according to international standards.

DSTC is led by former Formula One driver and two times Le Mans winner Alexander Wurz and his father Franz Wurz, himself a European legend in racing (three times European Champion in Rallycross), and inventor of modern Road Safety Training in Europe.

Hyginus Omeje, Corps Sector Commander of FRSC Lagos State stated: “The human factor in road accidents is fundamental. Lack of traffic education and basic understanding of the consequences of careless driving, improper driving training and training in road and safety procedures, are the most significant factors contributing to traffic accidents. Hence, driver education and training programs are highest priority in Nigeria.”

In 2018, fatalities from road accident in Nigeria were 5,121 and another 31,094 people injured.

Most Nigerian truck drivers are schooled by experienced colleagues with inadequate training, after years of serving as ‘Motor Boys’. Demonstrating that “Lack of well-trained drivers hampers on fleet utilization, safe driving behaviours and add to the total number of fatal accidents”

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Source: Legit.ng