Chimons Gas boosts Eko Gas with LPG cylinders

As parts of effort towards ramping up the consumption of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), also known as cooking gas, in Lagos State, Chimons Gas Limited, an indigenous Nigerian company focused on the supply and distribution of petroleum products, has reinforced its commitment to contribute more cylinders to the EKO Gas project.

Baylon Duru, executive director, Chimons, who disclosed this recently at the flag-off of the cylinder distribution in Oshodi/Isolo Local government by the state government, said the company was contributing about 2,700 cylinders to the current phase of the project, adding that the company has successfully injected over 25,000 cylinders into the domestic market.      

For the current phase of the project, he noted that the government intended to initially distribute close to 20,000 cylinders in all the LGAs and LCDAs of the state for residents to start enjoying the benefits of this clean energy source.

“The initial distribution is about 20,000 cylinders. I would want to believe that one cylinder is for one home. So, 20,000 cylinders for a pilot project is really commendable. 

After this, there is another set of distribution that will go on. The Lagos state government is giving this out free to these beneficiaries. 

This is very laudable. I feel that if other states can do this, Nigeria in the next five years should be looking at attaining the 1 million tonnes that is being targeted. 

The essence is to increase our per capita consumption and be like other African countries,” he said.

Duru, who is the deputy chairman, LPG Group at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), commended the state government for keying in to such initiative capable of improving the per capita consumption of a product which the country has in abundance.

“You know this EKO Gas project has been on for close to two years. You will recall that on the 11th of June 2013 it was flagged in Surulere by the governor Babatunde Fashola. 

The next phase was at Ikorodu which was equally successfully. The essence of the scheme is to make LPG a gas for the state so that we can convert from all other forms of energy for cooking into LPG which you know is readily available, cheap and is clean energy,” he said.

Speaking further, he said: “LPG is in abundance in Nigeria but unfortunately we are not using it as our per capita consumption here is so small compared to the rest of sub-Saharan African. So we are simply taking this initiative to take the gas to the grassroots where people will appreciate it. 

The next thing we are doing is to make sure the source of refill gets closer to the people via the skid plant initiative.”

“Lagos wants to go green and going green you have to protect and sustain the environment and LPG is the energy to beat when it comes to sustainability of the environment. The state keyed into that in order to make sure that it assumes the mega city status. You can’t be a mega city if your people are still using ancient forms of energy for cooking including cow dung, charcoal and firewood,” Duru said.

FEMI ASU