…To Roll Out 70 Smart Fuel Stations Nationwide
THE NNPC Retail Ltd. has unveiled a fully smart, 24-hour self-service fuelling station designed for faster, transparent fuelling experience, volume accuracy, customer trust, direct control and energy security, just as it is set to
The station, located along Bill Clinton Drive, Airport Road, between the Flight Training School and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) Headquarters, Abuja, was commissioned on Thursday with live forecourt demonstrations.
The newly commissioned smart station offers a 180,000-litre Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) storage capacity, self-service fuel dispensing, Electric Vehicle (EV) charging, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) dispensing, automated car wash and vehicle service facility.
Dr Mumuni Dagazau, Executive Vice President, Downstream, NNPC Ltd., at the commissioning of the facility, said the project marked another milestone in NNPC Retail’s drive to improve customer experience through technology and innovation.
“The NNPC Ltd. will continue to invest in technology and strategic partnerships as Nigeria’s energy needs and customer expectations evolve.
“We are embracing the future of energy retail; a future that is smarter, more convenient, technology-driven and customer-focused,” he said.
He said the facility was developed through collaboration between NNPC Retail and the NIS as part of efforts to expand the company’s footprint and enhance energy security.
“I thank the NIS, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG), our contractors, technology partners, who contributed to delivering this project,” he said
In his remarks, Mr Shettima Baba-Kukawa, Executive Director, Retail Operations, NNPC Retail Ltd., said the station also had a 45,000-litre Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) capacity, with 16 pumps for PMS and two pumps for AGO dispensing.
According to him, the station is designed as an energy and mobility hub rather than a conventional filling station while plans are underway to introduce CNG facilities at the station.
He said NNPC Retail had partnered with African Motor Works to deploy six-point EV charging facilities at the station, adding that it was fully powered by solar energy, with a solar system of more than 200 kilowatts.
“The station will operate 24 hours daily and offer self-service fuel dispensing to customers through the NNPC Retail mobile application.
“So for customers that want to dispense by themselves, they can actually do that transactions with their downloaded NNPC fuel retail app and conclude it by dispensing the exact amount of fuel they purchased into their tanks,” he said.
Baba-Kukawa said NNPC Retail would replicate the model across the country through partnerships with other government agencies and organisations.
Earlier, Mr Huub Stokman, Managing Director, NNPC Retail Ltd., said the downstream petroleum industry was changing rapidly following full deregulation and the commencement of operations by the Dangote Refinery.
Stokman said the changing industry required operators to respond to evolving consumer expectations by providing quality products, reliable services and competitive prices.
He said there were also additional services, including restaurants, convenience shops, coffee shops, banking services and car washes at filling stations.
Stokman said younger consumers, in particular, were increasingly demanding sustainable energy solutions, hence the decision to power the new station entirely with solar energy.
He said NNPC Retail was committed to meeting the changing needs of consumers through technology, convenience, sustainability and improved service delivery.
“This is an important step along that journey, with much more to come in the future,” he said.
NAN reports that the Electric Vehicle (EV) charging service costs N400 per kilowatt-hour, with a full recharge requiring up to 40 kilowatt-hours, depending on the vehicle.
A fully charged EV can travel between 410 kilometres and 700 kilometres before requiring another recharge.
70 Smart Fuel Stations For Rollout Nationwide
Meanwhile the NNPC says it plans to roll out between 50 and 70 smart self-service fuelling stations across the country within the next six months. Dr Mumuni Dagazau, Executive Vice President, Downstream, NNPC Ltd., disclosed this on Thursday at the commissioning of the NNPC Retail Ltd. smart mega fuelling station in Abuja.
“We are hoping to roll out a significant number, between 50 and 70 of these types of stations within the next six months.
“So, this is what you’ll be seeing going forward from NNPC. I think the most important thing for us is the customer’s wants. It is a centre where you can access different forms of energy, including EV, electricity, gas and petrol. So, we are turning from a filling station to an energy hub,” he said.
Dagazau said the smart stations would allow customers to access services and make payments through the NNPC Retail mobile application.
He said customers could visit the stations at any time, including at night, to dispense fuel themselves or recharge their electric vehicles.
He said the facility was equipped with fast EV chargers capable of fully charging a vehicle within 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the vehicle and battery level.
The EVP said the smart stations would also provide Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), lubricant services, automated car wash and other customer-oriented services.
He said NNPC would modernise existing stations as part of the rollout, while new facilities would be developed based on customer demand.
Dagazau said the transformation would not eliminate jobs, noting that personnel would still be required to support customers, automation, EV charging and other services.
“What we are doing is creating jobs. Somebody has to support the integration and automation, while personnel are also needed to support customers using the EV facilities.
“The difference is in how we deliver services to customers. The guarantee and comfort of the customer are what we are after,” he said.
Dagazau said customers would require the NNPC Retail application to access the self-service facility, adding that the application was free to download.
He, however, said customers who were unable to operate the application would be assisted by personnel at the station.
The EVP said the station was powered by solar energy, adding that NNPC Ltd. was considering wider adoption of renewable energy across its retail network.
He said the company’s modernisation programme was driven by changing customer expectations and advances in technology.
“We cannot ignore innovation and technology and leave our stations the way they have always been. In the next few years, most NNPC stations will look like this,” he said.
Dagazau said the new model was designed to make customers’ visits to NNPC stations more convenient by providing several services in one location.
He added that plans were underway to establish CNG conversion facilities at some of the smart stations, enabling motorists to convert their vehicles while accessing other services. (NAN)
