The governor hoped Greenville, owned by private investors, will bring alternative and cheaper energy, especially at a time petrol price is soaring higher following removal of fuel subsidy.
He said the project will lead to the conversion of petrol engines to gas, especially for heavy-duty trucks, as well as smaller vehicles.
The governor listed countries as Brazil, which are exploiting clean energy to drive their economies.
He spoke on what his administration put on ground to evolve a synergy between Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), which is bringing private investors to the state.
Managing Director of Greenville LNG, Ritu Sahajwalla, represented by his Director of Administration, Joseph Oyadoyin, said the project will further crystaliise Sule’s industralisation drive.
“Our project will bring benefits to the host community, starting with creation of employment. We understand the importance of job creation and economic empowerment, and we have tried to contribute to the further crystallisation of investments in this area,” he said.
Sahajwalla said the recent derrugulation of the petroleum industry has emphasized the urgent need for alternative and cleaner energy sources, with the timing for his company’s LNG and L-CNG apt as it provides a solution to the high petrol prices that is burdening the common man, ensuring stability and affordability of gas.
“You can convert your small generator. You can use the LNG to power it. Then your vehicle that is using petrol based on the capacity, through conversion kit, you can use LNG to power the vehicle,” he added.
Sahajwalla disclosed that the company will establish another facility in Karu Local Government Area after the completion of the first project in Lafia.
Earlier, in a welcome address, Managing Director/CEO, Nasarawa Investment Development Agency (NASIDA), Ibrahim Abdullahi, said the two million US dollars investment by Greenville LNG is the first of its kind in the North Central region of the country and has 23 metric tonnes capacity of LNG and 1,500 SCM of L-CNG.
Abdullahi added that the project will usher in the introduction of LNG and LCNG usage for heavy-duty trucks as well as smaller vehicles such as automobiles and Keke NAPEP in the region as fuel prices has skyrocketed since the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May.
The NASIDA MD described the groundbreaking as a testimony of Engineer Sule’s vision to industrialize Nasarawa State.
“Nigeria is a gas producing country distracted by oil production. Today, with the groundbreaking of this facility, you are ushering in the development of a major facility that will help in promoting clean energy and add up to Nigeria’s quest for a just energy transition,” he said.
