By EMMANUELLA ANOKAM

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.

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 News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 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. (NAN)