With 57 routes, 729 boats/ferries, Lagos moves to adopt CNG for waterways transport

By Lanre Abdul

The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi) has forged a partnership with the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) with a view to adopting cleaner and more sustainable energy sources for waterway transportation.

The strategic engagement held recently focused on the introduction of compressed natural gas (CNG) to power boats and ferries operating in the state.

Representatives of RIL Hydro Kraft Limited (Promoters of CNG for Marine) key Boat Operators and Marine Stakeholders across Lagos State were in attendance to host the Programme Coordinator/CEO of PCNGi, Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi who was on ground to sell the potentials of CNG in powering boats and ferries.

The Lagos waterways has in recent times undergone remarkable transformation with the introduction of modern boats and ferries by LASWA, charged with the responsibility of managing water transportation in the state.
With 57 routes and 729 boats and ferries, an average of 54,000 daily commuters and 48 jetties and terminals, the Lagos water transportation is big, requiring a more sustainable, cleaner and more environmentally friendly energy source.

It was on this premise that the CNG is being proposed as an alternative fuel to reduce the cost of petrol and diesel for boats and ferries.

According to the General Manager of LASWA, Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, the growing water transportation sector presents a challenge to explore a cheaper and more environmentally sustainable fuel.

He said, “We are faced with an interesting challenge on the waterways. As you know, Lagos State has to diversify from road transport, for water and rail to fully function. However, if we are going to optimize our waterways, we are faced with the issue of petrol emission engines.

“Because the removal of the subsidy has obviously made anything that uses petrol to be quite high, and obviously has affected us, and has affected the majority of our stakeholders as well in the room. So of course, we have to then look for alternatives, and we have to think outside the box. So we are left with very few options, other than CNG, electric. Even if we consider solar. Solar can’t really power. Solar can also be a part of supporting what we want to do.

“So really this morning, the reason we are here is to fully be able to explore the option of CNG, and of course, chart a way forward for this sector. We believe that through our engagements today, as you can see, we have the powers that be, also on the table. And I want to believe that the stakeholders too are also here. There’s still a larger, wider group, but we believe that we have a quorum to be able to speak forth and you can hear real time from what the operators and everyone is going through and how this will tie into the initiatives,” he said.

The PCNGi coordinator said the nation has not fully utilised the abundant gas reserves just like the potential on the waterways has not been fully tapped for the benefit of the people.

Describing Lagos as the aquatic splendor of Nigeria, he stated that it is high time the state benefited from the ongoing CNG initiative to reduce the cost of transportation on the waterways. He stated that already those using CNG to power their vehicles and trucks are enjoying 90 per cent reduction in their cost of fueling.

Engr. Michael stated that already the initiative had engaged extensively with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on the need to power their locomotives with CNG, adding that similar engagement is being extended to the waterways.

He said, “We are here today to begin to consider the necessary steps towards ensuring that we can apply compressed natural gas (CNG) in the marine environment. We recognise that about 5m Nigerians everyday across Nigeria transport on water.

“So for us it is very important that we come here to understand their needs with a view of future application. “We have established that water passengers in Nigeria are equally as important as the land passengers. They are all part of our economy and with most Nigerian states having significant waterways, it is very important that we think about how to also provide them this alternative fuel and we have established that it is possible to run boats on CNG. What we need to do is to think through the necessary incentives to make that happen, the necessary infrastructure to facilitate that.”

Some of the concerns raised by operators at the engagement have to do with the safety and efficiency of CNG. Questions were also asked about availability of CNG in view of recent queues of vehicles waiting to refill their CNG tanks.

Responding, the PCNGi coordinator stated that CNG is safer and more reliable, adding that operators in the marine and waterways transportation sub-sector could save as much as 90 per cent of their fuel cost.

“You have to make sure you use original and legitimate kits. It is very safe, safer than petrol and diesel. It is more reliable and cheaper,” he said. He also disclosed that the initiative would support the operators with kits and probably pay for availability of the kits in addition to supporting them with capacity development.