Edo CNG Explosion: FG Verifies Unauthorized and Incorrectly Welded Cylinder
In response to the recent explosion of a compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle in Edo State, the federal government of Nigeria has confirmed that the cylinder in question was incorrectly welded and did not have the required authorizations. The conversion of gasoline-powered vehicles to CNG, which the government has been pushing as a less expensive alternative to gasoline, has prompted severe safety concerns in light of this incident, which happened at the NIPCO gas station in Aduwawa, along the Benin-Auchi highway.
Details of the Explosion
On Thursday, October 17, 2024, the explosion occurred during the refueling of a CNG cylinder in a station wagon. The rear portion of the car was completely destroyed by the explosion, and shrapnel flew across the gas station, damaging other cars and injuring passengers in varying degrees. Many individuals were shocked by the explosion’s severity, and anxiety was high in the region right after it happened.
Videos of the aftermath that showed the blast’s devastation were posted on social media by a number of witnesses. Even though there were no fatalities, the incident caused a lot of people to react negatively and raise questions about the safety of CNG cars, especially those that were converted from gasoline engines.
The Government’s Reaction and Safety Issues
In a prompt response, the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI) offered condolences to the accident victims. It further underlined that because of its incorrectly changed and welded cylinder, the vehicle in question was not permitted to use CNG.
In a statement published on X (formerly Twitter), the PCNGI stated, “The Presidential CNG Initiative notes the unfortunate incident that involved an illegally modified vehicle at an NIPCO CNG Station in Benin City on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.” We express our gratitude that no one was killed and our sympathies to those harmed in this avoidable tragedy.
The government stressed the importance of handling all hydrocarbon products responsibly, emphasizing that only licensed vehicles and authorized conversion facilities should be utilized for the installation of CNG.
According to the press release, “A close examination of the cylinder in question shows that it was welded and modified and not approved for CNG use.” The public was reassured by the PCNGI that investigations are still being conducted in conjunction with the police.
Regulatory bodies as well as NIPCO’s administration.
Nigeria will soon introduce a gas vehicle monitoring system.In order to take preventative action, the government declared that it would work with regulatory organizations like the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), and the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) to introduce the Nigeria Gas Vehicle Monitoring System (NGVMS).
This system is intended to monitor and control CNG-using automobiles, guaranteeing that only authorized conversion facilities are utilized and that safety precautions are taken. All parties involved were advised by the PCNGI to adhere to this new method and refrain from risky behaviors that could endanger lives.
Public Responses
The safety of CNG conversions and the government’s responsibility to ensure that CNG technology is used appropriately have become hot topics of discussion on social media as a result of the explosion. Nigerians’ responses are included below:
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