Expert advocates phasing out diesel engines to cut Nigeria’s GHG emissions by 60%

Energy Expert, Mr. Quadri Fatai, has called for a national strategy to phase out diesel-powered engines in Nigeria, asserting that such a move could lead to a significant 60 percent reduction in Green House Gas (GHG) and fugitive methane emissions.

Fatai, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Alfa Design Nigeria Limited, gave this advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

”As it is now, we are supposed to be winding down on all diesel-powered engines in the country based on the GHG emissions statement.”

He emphasized that transitioning diesel engines to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or adopting other cleaner and greener energy alternatives and technologies would effectively eliminate carbon soot emissions from diesel engines while simultaneously bolstering the nation’s energy security.

Fatai highlighted that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) guidelines on GHG emissions are specifically designed to minimize the environmental and social impact resulting from the release of natural gas components, including methane and other harmful compounds.

The expert explained that embracing cleaner technologies is crucial for mitigating carbon output, particularly the carbon soot generated by diesel engines, which is a major contributor to both environmental pollution and various health hazards.

He elaborated on the detrimental effects of these emissions, stating that they absorb infrared radiation from outer space, trapping heat and contributing to the warming of the Earth, thus exacerbating climate change.

Fatai also pointed out the economic rationale for moving away from diesel, citing its high cost and the abundant availability of natural gas as a viable and cost-effective alternative energy source within Nigeria.

He urged for a concerted national effort to implement this transition as swiftly as possible to mitigate the adverse impacts of diesel emissions.

He further announced that Alfa Design Limited, a prominent oil and gas company, is poised to commence the conversion of diesel-powered engines to CNG in Nigeria, contributing to the promotion of cleaner and more affordable energy solutions.

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NAN recalls Nigeria’s commitment to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, signed in September 2016, which led to the implementation of numerous initiatives aimed at reducing emissions across all sectors.

As part of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement, Nigeria pledged in 2021 to reduce GHG emissions by 47 percent by 2030, contingent upon international support.

This commitment followed the enactment of Nigeria’s first climate bill after the UN Climate Change Conference of Parties 26 in Glasgow in 2021, which also set an ambitious national net-zero target by 2060.  

Key abatement measures outlined to achieve Nigeria’s emission reduction targets include the complete elimination of routine gas flaring by 2030 and a 60 percent reduction in fugitive methane emissions by the same year.

These measures are mandated under the NUPRC operators’ guidelines on the management of fugitive methane GHG emissions from upstream oil and gas operations.