Oando Clean Energy Limited (OCEL), a part of the Oando Plc group, has taken delivery of electric mass transit buses for use in Lagos State.
In 2022, OCEL signed a memorandum of understanding with the Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority (LAMATA), to enable the successful deployment of an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Ecosystem (electric buses, charging stations, and other supporting infrastructure) towards the attainment of a sustainable road transport system in the state.
“This is in line with the provisions of the partnership between OCEL and LAMATA, the receipt of both the buses and charging stations marks the commencement of our Sustainable Transport Initiative, which is one of the company’s pipeline projects to support Nigeria in meeting her goal of net zero by 2060,” OCEL said in a statement on Tuesday.
The company said that it partnered with Yutong, one of the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturers, to produce electric buses, equipped with air conditioning and Wi-Fi.
In addition to the arrival of these electric buses, OCEL has also taken delivery of the charging stations and spare parts necessary to ensure effective operation.
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“The arrival of our electric mass transit buses and the development of an EV infrastructure ecosystem is a reminder that the only way to remain ahead of the curve is by being unafraid to break new ground and consistently looking for opportunities to leapfrog,” said Adewale Tinubu, the chairman, OCEL.
“Audacity and innovation have always been key tenets in our journey to transform Nigeria’s energy future. It’s this spirit that has brought us to this juncture today – at the forefront of propelling Nigeria towards realising her net-zero targets.
“Furthermore, this project underscores the African saying, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.’ Public-private partnerships have been critical to getting the project to this point and will continue to fuel our expansion across the entire country.
“I must commend the collaborative efforts of the Lagos State government through LAMATA in seeing this project through. The commencement of this project gives us a platform to showcase to other states that are possible and open the door for engagements on bespoke solutions to suit their local needs as well as act as a model to be adopted by other organisations looking to venture into sustainable transportation,” Tinubu said.
“This is a watershed moment for Yutong. It’s our first delivery of electric mass transit buses in Sub-Saharan Africa and the first step in the large-scale deployment of an electric-powered public road transport system in Nigeria,” Frank Lee, the managing director, of Yutong West Africa said.
“We are excited to be embarking on this journey in partnership with Oando, an organisation with a history of stellar performance in the energy sector and are hopeful to see a quick turnaround in our joint plans to advance all facets of the country’s transition to eco-friendly vehicles, including the development of local capacity through the delivery of, and exposure to extensive training programs for all stakeholders, from drivers to operators and the regulators.
“Our foray into Sub-Saharan Africa has transformed us into a global supplier of EVs with customers across the Middle East, Europe, South America and Asia. Our electric vehicles offer outstanding performance due to their advanced technology capabilities and testing for different terrains; all of which make our buses particularly well suited for use as a public transportation option in Nigeria,” Lee added.
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