By Felix Khanoba
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has announced plans to launch the Nigerian Gas Vehicle Monitoring System (NGVMS) in collaboration with the Presidential Initiatives on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and other relevant government agencies.
The NGVMS platform, currently in its final stage of development, will enable centralized monitoring and surveillance of CNG systems across the country.
It aims to ensure that only vehicles equipped with certified conversion kits can access gas at retail outlets, promoting safety and compliance in the CNG sector.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by SON and made available to The AUTHORITY in Abuja over the weekend.
The Organisation also warned Nigerians against using uncertified CNG cylinders, emphasizing the significant risks involved.
“Following the disturbing news emanating from the unfortunate CNG cylinder explosion at the NIPCO CNG Refueling Station in Benin City, Edo State, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is calling on all to heed the warning against the use of substandard and uncertified CNG gas cylinders.
“As the Organisation commiserates with those affected by the incident, it is pertinent to note that preliminary investigations have revealed the cylinder used to convert the vehicle differs and does not comply with the CNG Standards approved by the Organisation,” the statement said.
SON further emphasized that robust regulatory measures are in place to ensure that all CNG equipment and conversion kits meet approved standards before being certified for public use. These conformity assessment schemes are designed to prevent the import, manufacture, and use of substandard products.
“In addition, SON, in collaboration with the Presidential Initiatives on CNG and other relevant government bodies, is finalizing the Nigerian Gas Vehicle Monitoring System (NGVMS) – a platform that will provide centralized monitoring and surveillance of CNG systems to ensure that only vehicles equipped with certified conversion kits can access gas at retail outlets,” the statement said .
The NGVMS platform will also feature a database of approved CNG equipment and suppliers, which SON believes will help curb substandard installations and mitigate related risks.
“This initiative reassures the public that CNG safety is a top priority and reaffirms SON’s commitment to ensuring the safe use of CNG in Nigeria. It also urges all stakeholders to prioritize safety and recognize that LPG and other gas cylinders are not suitable for CNG containment.
“It is therefore imperative to highlight the structural differences between LPG and CNG cylinders, which are crucial to ensuring and maintaining safety under the high pressure associated with CNG vehicles,” the statement noted.
The Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke-led SON detailed key distinctions between LPG and CNG cylinders, stating: Pressure Capacity: “The LPG cylinders, with a working pressure of 7 bar, can withstand a test pressure of up to 30 bar of gas. However, CNG cylinders are designed for much higher pressures, with a working pressure of up to 200 bar and a test pressure of 300 bar or more.”
Construction: “LPG cylinders can have welded joints or seams, while CNG cylinders are seamless, with no weld joints.”
The Organisation urged CNG vehicle users to ensure that only SON-certified cylinders are installed in their vehicles to prevent serious safety risks.
Additionally, SON directed all CNG refueling stations to conduct on-the-spot inspections to verify that vehicles are equipped with certified conversion kits, including proper labels identifying the authorized conversion centres.
