PCNGI: Why CNG powered car exploded in Benin

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

The Presidential CNG Initiative, PCNGI has explained reasons for the recent explosion of a vehicle converted from use of petrol to CNG at a filling station in Benin city, Edo State.

Three persons sustained varying degrees of injury, following the explosion which occurred on Wednesday, 16 October at a CNG refilling station as captured in a 25-second viral video.

Background voices could be heard blaming the explosion on fake and substandard materials used for the conversion.

The driver of the vehicle was said to have driven the vehicle to the station on a test mission, in the company of the technician who installed the CNG tank.

It, however, exploded in the process of filling CGN into the newly installed gas tank.

Those injured, including a station cleaner, pump attendant and one other, were said to have been rushed to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.

It was gathered that the technician who installed the tank reported himself to the police and led a team of officers to the scene of the incident.

The explosion of the vehicle had heightened fears about safety of conversion of vehicles to the use of CNG as being canvassed by the Presidential CNG Initiative as a relief from the ballooning cost of petrol.

However, the Presidential Initiative on CNG attributed the incident to the fact that the vehicles was modified to use CNG by an untrained technician.

The PCNGI, in a statement on its social media handles noted that a close examination of the exploded cylinder will reveal that it was not the one approved for the CNG conversion.

It said: “The PCNGI commiserates with those injured in this avoidable incident, and thankful that no lives were lost.

“The PCNGI also notes that safe handling of all hydrocarbon is critical to their safe use. A close examination of the cylinder in question in Benin City shows it was welded and modified and not an approved for use for CNG. The police, regulatory authorities and management of NIPCO are undertaking a painstaking investigation of the incident and we are coordinating with them.

“This incident reiterates the impetus of the PCNGI and our partners on the soon to be launched Nigeria Gas Vehicle Monitoring System at SON, NMDPRA, NADDC and FRSC to tackle any bad actors in the ecosystem that seeks to make this safer, cheaper, cleaner and more reliable source of fueling risky for all.

“We also call on all stakeholders to cooperate with the new system of regulation and ensure full compliance. Only accredited conversion centers must be patronized and safe handling of CNG just like petrol ensures safety of all.