Nigeria's Transport Minister Test-Runs Retrofitted Train Locomotive Operating on a 70:30 Ratio of LNG and Diesel

The Minister of Transportation, Sen. Said Alkali, today, Thursday, 19th September 2024, at the Amina J. Mohammed Train Station (Idu Train Station) on the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor, showcased a successful test-run of a retrofitted train locomotive operating on a dual ratio of 70% LNG and 30% diesel, aiming to reduce operational costs by up to 60%.

The Transportation Minister, who embarked on a train ride from the Idu Train Station to the Kubwa Train Station, expressed satisfaction with the successful test-run, stating: “This feat is a step towards reducing the cost of transportation and making train rides more affordable for the general public.”

Explaining the retrofitting process, Alkali stated that the locomotive initially used 100% diesel. However, with this process, the locomotive will now use 70% LNG and 30% diesel. Speaking further, the Minister disclosed that a 100% conversion to LNG is not achievable, as the locomotive engine is a heavy-duty engine designed to run on diesel, making a full technical conversion to CNG or LNG impossible.

On the rollout of the retrofitting process across all locomotives operating along existing rail corridors, Alkali noted that it would be necessary to review the existing laws to allow this implementation. Therefore, representatives from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the Transport Ministry, and the Nigeria Railway Corporation were present. He mentioned that the ministry would now write to the ICRC for vetting, enabling them to approach the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval.

Speaking at the test-run, Samuel Uko, Managing Director of De-Sadel Consortium, highlighted that this is the first locomotive on the African continent to be tested with LNG. He acknowledged the proactiveness of the ministry and the Minister, stating that this achievement would not have been possible without their efforts.