Mohammed Shosanya

Kwara State University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with two Chinese corporations-Zhejiang Sinray Electronics Company and Jiaxing Keyuan Electronics to commence large-scale commercial conversion of petrol vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas and electric vehicles.

The Vice-Chancellor of KWASU, Jimoh Shaykh-Luqman,who disclosed this on Friday,said the varsity has successfully converted three vehicles to electric and one to CNG.

He said the university KWASU is the first institution in the country to accomplish this milestone in collaboration with the two Chinese firms.

Prof. Lukman explained that the decision to collaborate with reputable companies for the supply of CNG conversion kits was a proactive measure to ensure quality and prevent the use of substandard products that could pose safety hazards.

He also said that the objective of KWASU is to scale up conversions significantly to make this cost-effective initiative accessible to a wider audience.

“Kwara State University has effectively converted three of its vehicles to electric motors, as well as one vehicle from the Kwara State Ministry of Business Innovation and Technology,”he said.

According to him,the skyrocketing petrol prices and the consequent surge in harmful carbon emissions prompted the university to embark on this research, which has already yielded substantial benefits.

He emphasized the advantages of conversion, such as financial savings and environmental gains, stating, “while a liter of petrol costs approximately N1,200, a kilogram of gas is only N200. Furthermore, the risk of inhaling carbon emissions is eliminated.”

He announced KWASU’s intent to inaugurate a site for the official launch of the commercial project, ensuring that it will bolster the university’s internal revenue generation services.

“When we converted our initial two vehicles to electric, we presented them to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who praised and endorsed our endeavors. Following his endorsement, the Ministry of Business Innovation and Technology entrusted us with three vehicles for electric conversion. We have successfully converted two of them so far,”he said.

He said that the governor also facilitated the transfer of 22 vehicles from Kwara Express to KWASU for conversion, and work on these vehicles has already begun.

He added:”Recently, we completed the conversion of one vehicle to CNG, allowing it to run on both petrol and gas. We are not novices to this process; we have been engaged in it for some time and are already witnessing promising outcomes.

“We are presently in the developmental phase; once we transition to the marketing phase, this project will contribute to the university’s revenue, particularly with the planned site here in town”.

Mohammed Shosanya

Amigo LNG SA de CV (Amigo LNG) of Mexico, a subsidiary of LNG Alliance Pte Ltd, Friday entered into a Heads of Agreement (HOA) with Sahara Group, a leading global energy and infrastructure conglomerate, to supply Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from its liquefaction facility in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico.

This agreement marks a significant step in strengthening long-term LNG supply chains aimed at serving the rapidly growing energy markets in Asia and Latin America,a statement said.

“This agreement strengthens our collaboration with Sahara Group, a dynamic leader in Africa’s energy sector, and firmly positions Amigo LNG as a key player in the global LNG supply market,” said Muthu Chezhian, CEO of LNG Alliance Pte Ltd quoted in the statement.

He added: “Our partnership drives forward our shared vision of delivering sustainable, reliable, and scalable energy solutions to meet the world’s evolving needs. Together, we are committed to advancing energy transition goals, fostering innovation, and expanding access to clean energy resources globally, creating lasting impact and positive change for future generations.”

Wale Ajibade, Executive Director, Sahara Group, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership,saying: “This HOA with Amigo LNG perfectly aligns with Sahara Group’s commitment to bringing energy to life responsibly by facilitating access to clean, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions. By expanding our LNG portfolio, we are reinforcing our dedication to delivering more affordable energy globally.

“This partnership not only strengthens our foothold in the LNG industry but also positions us to support energy transition efforts.We are excited to collaborate closely with Amigo LNG and look forward to the transformative impact we will create together.”

The Amigo LNG project, a large-scale 7.8 MTPA liquefaction and export facility located on Mexico’s west coast, benefits from its proximity to key shipping lanes and access to Asia-Pacific markets.

Developed in close cooperation with the State of Sonora and the Port of Guaymas, this facility is a vital component of Mexico’s emerging LNG export industry.

Mohammed Shosanya

A new report by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL),Lagos State says Nigerians spend $10 billion (N7.6trillion) trillion) annually on petrol and generator maintenance.

The development underscores the country’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels for energy generation,despite huge challenges and environmental concerns,the report said

According to the report,the high cost of fuel and generator (genset) maintenance place a heavy burden on households and businesses, hindering economic growth and development.

It said:“Nigerians reportedly spend $10 billion (N7.6 trillion) annually on fuel and maintenance for small petrol genset,” SEforALL said in the report entitled, “Beyond Gensets: Advancing the Energy Transition in Lagos State.”

The report noted that Lagos State’s heavy reliance on diesel-powered generators has resulted in an alarming environmental toll, with estimated annual carbon emissions reaching 39 million tons of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e), higher than three other African countries such as Rwanda, Gabon, and Togo.

The report disclosed that emissions from Lagos’ residential, commercial, and market sectors are overwhelming.

The residential sector alone accounts for 21 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, while the commercial sector contributes 17.8 million tonnes, with markets adding a further 141,125 tonnes.

“Together, these emissions amount to 39 million tonnes of CO2, a staggering figure when compared to emissions from other nations,” SEforALL said.

According to the report, the average small business in Africa’s biggest economy spends N20,000 to 40,000 per month just on fuel.

“This is the largest cost to many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in their operations,” SEforALL said.

“The cost of electricity for petrol generators is 83 percent higher than the cost of electricity from the grid,” SEforALL said.

The report further stated that Togo emits approximately 9.8 million tonnes of CO2 annually, Rwanda 10.6 million tonnes, and Gabon 10.2 million tonnes.

It estimated that Lagos State alone has a generator set capacity of around 19 gigawatts (GW),far exceeding the national grid’s installed capacity of 12.2 GW.

“This dependency has not only placed Lagos at the forefront of Nigeria’s power generation challenges but has also contributed to a substantial environmental burden,”the report said.

The report noted that the city’s dependence on gensets is largely a consequence of Nigeria’s unreliable electricity grid, which has long struggled to meet demand due to inefficiencies, underinvestment, and maintenance issues.

Despite having an installed capacity of 13,014.14 megawatts (MW), Nigeria’s national grid frequently operates below optimal levels, with outages and inconsistent power supply forcing residents and businesses to rely on alternative power sources like generators.

The SEforALL report emphasized the import of transitioning to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources in Lagos and across Nigeria.