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In a demonstration of its support for President Bola Tinubu’s CNG Initiative, which aims to provide cheaper and cleaner fuelling alternatives for all Nigerians, Dangote Cement Plc has made significant investments exceeding $280 million in compressed natural gas (CNG) technology and infrastructure.
Dangote, in a statement, said President Tinubu, whose commitment to CNG deployment and clean energy is unmatched in Africa, has maintained his administration’s drive to create a conducive environment for private sector investments and expand Nigeria’s CNG infrastructure to enhance energy efficiency and drive economic growth.
As part of this initiative, he ordered the distribution of one million free CNG conversion kits for commercial vehicles involved in transporting people, food and goods.
At a recent event, the president emphasised the urgent need for Nigeria to utilise its vast natural gas resources in the transportation sector, stating that CNG transportation is an economic necessity for Nigeria, signalling a significant shift in the country’s approach to public transportation and energy use.
“Utilising natural gas to power Nigeria’s transportation industry is the next way to go,” he stated.
On its part, the Dangote Cement said the over $280 million investment not only solidifies its leadership in the CNG sector but also reflects its dedication to mitigating climate change and supporting a transition to a low-carbon economy.
Arvind Pathak, Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, said the investment aims to acquire 100 per cent CNG trucks as part of a long-term plan to transition its entire fleet to CNG.
This move marks a significant milestone in Dangote’s clean energy transition, with the objective of operating most of its fleet on CNG by mid-2026.
As at October, the company has received its first batch of 1,500 mono-fuel CNG trucks while expecting additional 1,600 CNG trucks; totalling 3,100 before the end of the year.
Pathak stated, “By mid- 2026, Dangote Cement aims to operate a fleet predominantly powered by CNG. To facilitate this transformation, we are investing in expanding our CNG fuelling infrastructure, ensuring that our growing fleet has reliable access to CNG as our fuel.”
He said plans are afoot to aggressively pursue this timeline of deployment, beginning from the first quarter of 2025.
“We are keeping our eyes on the ball to ensure that we do not miss our target dates of full compliance,” he added.
President/Chief Executive, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote said the company’s investments in CNG are also in line with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, which aims for net-zero emissions by 2060.
He said: “In this pursuit of transition to clean energy, we are optimistic of a remarkable accomplishment by President Bola Tinubu, as he has taken the lead in the nation’s drive towards energy efficiency.
“This presupposes private sector intervention to support this noble idea initiated by the President.”
