COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS AS THE SOOTHING BALM-ALLEVIATING THE IMPACT OF PMS SUBSIDY REMOVAL By Felix Awonaiya
The appointment of a Minister of State, Gas, and Petroleum Resources shows that this is a focused and well-prepared government intent on taking the country to the next level of development. Iran satisfies around 22% of its basket of energy needs from Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). There were about 2,500 CNG dispensing stations in 2021 for a population of about 90m, and their government is making concerted efforts to increase the use of CNG further even as they suffer from periodic gas shortages. Our population, t hough the last election returns may undermine this as a mirage is estimated at 220m. We would be fortunate to reach 100 CNG stations by the end of 2024 if we go with the current pace, and that is even if fortune smiles on us. Nothing but a drop in the ocean, if it can even be called that. Concerted measures such as those enumerated below are needed to shift the mix of CNG in our fuel basket to double-digit figures in the life of this administration. It can and should be done