By Ladi Gbegi
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has issued a strong warning to the public, advising against the use of substandard and uncertified Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cylinders.
This follows a CNG cylinder explosion at the NIPCO CNG Refueling Station in Benin City, Edo State.
In a statement released on Saturday, SON expressed its condolences to those affected by the incident and revealed that preliminary investigations showed the cylinder used in the vehicle’s conversion did not meet the CNG standards approved by the organisation.
SON emphasised that it has stringent regulatory measures in place to ensure that all CNG equipment and conversion kits meet approved safety standards before being certified for public use. The organisation’s conformity assessment schemes are designed to prevent the importation, manufacturing, and use of substandard products.
The statement also highlighted SON’s collaboration with the Presidential Initiatives on CNG and other relevant government bodies to finalise the Nigerian Gas Vehicle Monitoring System (NGVMS). This platform will centralise the monitoring and surveillance of CNG systems, ensuring that only vehicles equipped with certified conversion kits can access gas at retail outlets.
The NGVMS will also provide a database of approved CNG equipment and suppliers, which will help prevent substandard installations and reduce associated risks. SON reassured the public that safety is a top priority and stressed the importance of using only CNG-certified cylinders, as LPG and other types of gas cylinders are not suitable for CNG containment.
The organisation pointed out the critical structural differences between LPG and CNG cylinders, noting that while LPG cylinders can withstand a working pressure of up to 30 bar, CNG cylinders are designed for much higher pressures, with a working pressure of up to 200 bar. CNG cylinders are also seamless, while LPG cylinders may have welded joints, which could pose a safety risk under the high pressures associated with CNG use.
SON urged CNG vehicle users to ensure their vehicles are fitted with SON-certified cylinders and called on refueling stations to conduct inspections to verify that vehicles are equipped with approved conversion kits. The organisation reiterated its commitment to developing and certifying CNG product standards to meet safety requirements and enhance public safety in the CNG conversion process.
