NNPC to roll out 70 smart energy stations nationwide

NThe Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC Ltd., is set to introduce between 50 and 70 technology-driven energy stations across Nigeria within the next six months.

The planned outlets will move beyond the conventional petrol station model by combining fuel dispensing with electric vehicle charging, liquefied petroleum gas, LPG, compressed natural gas, CNG, car wash and other lifestyle services.

The Executive Vice President, Downstream, NNPC Ltd., Engr. Mumuni Dagazau, disclosed this in Abuja  during the commissioning of a new smart station.

Dagazau described the facility as the first in a planned nationwide rollout, explaining that the initiative was aimed at turning conventional filling stations into integrated energy hubs.

“We are hoping to roll out a significant number, probably about 50 to 70 of these types of stations within the next six months. So this is what you’ll be seeing going forward from NNPCL.

“This is the first of many smart stations that we are going to have around the country. What the whole concept is, we are trying to turn from a filling station to an energy hub,” he said.

He said the new facilities would bring petrol, gas and electricity services together, while customers would also have the option of dispensing fuel themselves, including during the night.

Dagazau rejected concerns that introducing self-service technology would result in job losses, arguing that the new energy hubs would require additional workers to manage the expanded range of services.

“What NNPC does is create jobs. What this does is create jobs. You have an energy hub today. If you look at the average filling station and you look at the energy hub, you will find more people in the energy hub than you will find in the filling stations,” he said.

He added that personnel would be needed to support customers, manage automated systems and operate facilities such as EV charging points.

On electric vehicles, Dagazau said the Abuja station had fast-charging facilities capable of charging an electric vehicle in about 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the vehicle and its battery level.

He said the expansion programme would also involve upgrading existing NNPC Retail outlets to provide customers with improved services.

“We are going to modernise our stations. The customer deserves a better quality of service and we are delivering that quality of service,” he said.

According to Dagazau, more smart stations are being planned for Abuja and Kano, while the company intends to extend the model to other parts of the country during the six-month rollout period.

The Executive Director, Retail Operations and Mobility, NNPC Ltd., Mr Shettima Baba-Kukawa, disclosed that the Abuja facility has storage capacity for 180,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, and 45,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, AGO.

The station has 16 PMS pumps and two AGO pumps, while six electric vehicle charging points were installed in partnership with African Motor Works.

Baba-Kukawa said the facility was powered entirely by solar energy through a system with a capacity exceeding 200 kilowatts.

He said NNPC Retail was also developing the station as a lifestyle and mobility centre, with a quick-service restaurant, coffee shop, automated car wash and modern vehicle service bay planned for the facility.

LPG dispensing is also being incorporated, while the company plans to add CNG dispensing and establish a CNG conversion centre.

“The station is going to run 24 hours. And it is fully self-service. So for customers that want to trust themselves and dispense themselves, they can actually do that. Transactions are done on their phone app and concluded by dispensing the exact amount of fuel they purchased into their tanks,” he said.

He explained that customers would have to download the NNPC Retail app, create and fund a wallet, and generate a code before dispensing the amount of fuel they had paid for.

However, customers who are unable to use the digital platform will still be able to access the service, as staff will be available to assist them.

Dear Vows