FG Boosts CNG Usage with 1,100-Vehicle Capacity Gas Filling Compressor Station in Abuja

The Federal Government of Nigeria has strengthened its nationwide drive for Compressed Natural Gas adoption by commissioning a high-capacity gas filling compressor booster station in Jahi District, Abuja, built to serve more than 1,100 vehicles per day.

Delivered by Rolling Energy Limited in partnership with the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF), this daughter booster station stands among the most advanced CNG facilities in West Africa. Its core unit is a 1,000 standard cubic metre per hour CNG reciprocating compressor, paired with cascade storage vessels and two tube skids holding a combined storage capacity of 17,000 standard cubic metres of compressed natural gas. A 150 kVA gas-fired standby generator is integrated into the skid package to guarantee stable compressor operation and refuelling service during grid power outages.

The station is fitted with four dual-stream CNG dispensers, designed for fast filling for private cars, tricycles, intercity buses and light-duty trucks. Under normal operating conditions, the compressor system supports daily throughput of 20,000 standard cubic metres, enough to handle 900–1,000 passenger vehicles and tricycles plus up to 50 commercial buses and trucks.

Attached to the compressor filling yard is a dedicated vehicle conversion centre with eight service bays. Certified technicians can retrofit petrol and diesel vehicles with NMDPRA-approved CNG cylinders and fuel supply kits, with a capacity of converting 20 cars and 25 tricycles each working day. This setup allows drivers to convert their vehicles and refuel at the same site.

Speaking at the commissioning event, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, highlighted that the booster compressor station solves a key bottleneck for Abuja’s CNG network. Unlike mother stations connected directly to trunk pipelines, this daughter station receives CNG via long tube trailers from remote mother stations, then uses its compressor to boost pressure into on-site cascade storage for fast dispensing. This flexible model can be replicated across towns without direct pipeline access.

Project management representatives noted that the compressor and skid-mounted equipment passed full site pressure testing, leak inspection and safety validation before handover. All fire suppression, gas detection and emergency shutdown systems are linked to the central control room for 24-hour monitoring.

Officials confirmed that this Jahi station is one of four CNG infrastructure projects commissioned the same day across Nigeria. The Federal Government continues to target a total of 1,000 new CNG filling stations nationwide to cut transport fuel costs and reduce carbon emissions from road transport.