SON cautions Nigerians on use of substandard CNG cylinders 

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has warned against the use of substandard and uncertified CNG Gas cylinders.

SON is reacting to the disturbing news emanating from the unfortunate CNG Cylinder explosion at the NIPCO CNG Refueling Station in Benin City, Edo State, 

As the Organization commiserates with those affected by the incident; it is pertinent to note that preliminary investigations have revealed the cylinder used to convert the vehicle differs and does not comply with the CNG Standards approved by the Organisation.

The Organisation has robust and effective regulatory measures in place to ensure that all CNG equipment and conversion kits conform to approved standards before being certified for public use. The conformity assessment schemes are designed to prevent the import, manufacturing, and use of substandard products.

In addition, SON, in collaboration with the Presidential Initiatives on CNG and other relevant government bodies, is finalizing the Nigerian Gas Vehicle Monitoring System (NGVMS) – a platform that will provide centralized monitoring and surveillance of CNG systems to ensure that only vehicles equipped with certified conversion kits can access gas at retail outlets.

The NGVMS will also offer a database of approved CNG equipment and suppliers which will go a long way in preventing the substandard installations and further mitigating the associated risks.

This initiative reassures the public that CNG safety is a top priority and reaffirms SON’S commitment to ensuring the safe use of CNG in Nigeria. It also urges all stakeholders to prioritize safety and recognize that LPG and other gas cylinders are not suitable for CNG containment.