By Moses Akaigwe
The drive towards deepening auto gas utilisation in Nigeria received a huge boost on Thursday when Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Ltd (IVM), Nnewi, Anambra State, rolled out a range of vehicles that run on CNG (compressed natural gas) and LNG (liquefied petroleum gas).
The new IVM auto gas vehicle range, including an intra-city mass transit bus model, heavy duty truck heads (tractors), and a compact passenger car aptly christened SMART, was commissioned by the President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Otunba Francis Meshioye.
The MAN President was accompanied by the association’s top council members, including the Director General, Segun Ajayi-Kadiri; the National Vice President, Eastern Zone,
Engr. Giandomenicco Massari: the Chairman, South-East Zone (Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi), Lady Ada Chukwudozie; and Engr. Emeka Nzewi, who also represented the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry {BOI}.
The MAN team and other guests at the ceremony commended the Innoson Group Chairman, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, for the initiative, even as they emphasized that auto gas is a very accessible alternative fuel with advantages such as comparatively lower cost per distance over a petrol or diesel vehicle, and environmental friendliness.
They described the Innoson Group Chairman, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, and his IVM, which is Nigeria’s first indigenous auto manufacturing plant, as the pride of Africa.
IVM auto gas vehicles
IVM 6125 City Bus. Built to accommodate 56 sitting passengers with provisions for 44 standing commuters, IVM 6125 bus, is designed for operation within the cities and towns with large populations.
IVM 440, IVM 375 Truck Heads. While some of the guests had previously caught a glimpse of the city bus, the heavy duty truck heads {tractors} made their first public outing at the roll-out. Interestingly, Innoson is also planning to launch into the market a range of 40-feet flatbed and container trailers that can be hooked up to the IVM tractors.
IVM Smart is a 1.5 litre compact car with its gas tank located in the booth.
It was learnt at the roll-out that some of the big vehicles are hybrid, which means that they can alternate between auto gas and diesel, depending on need and availability..
Chukwuma on economic benefits
Giving an insight into the project at the ceremony, the Chairman of Innoson Group disclosed that he was motivated by the vis
ion to find a sustainable solution to the high pump price of diesel and the debilitating effect on transportation gene
rally, especially the delivery of dry and wet cargoes across the country.
He was hopeful that the green energy IVM vehicles would help Nigerians discover the enormous benefits of transiting from fossil fuel (diesel and petrol) to CNG and LNG.
Dr. Chukwuma sounded upbeat that when they realise the huge gains in motoring with vehicles running on auto gas, and get used to the economic benefits, “Nigerians will not like to go back to vehicles using petrol and diesel.”
For instance, he blamed the exorbitant pump price of diesel for the average cost of trucking goods from Lagos to Anambra which he put at about N800, 000 based on his recent experience.
He was, however, confident that embracing auto gas would considerably reduce the cost of delivering the same cargo to about N300, 000.
“This is one of the reasons I said that the automotive fuel of the future is gas {CNG and LNG}. It has a lot of benefits in terms of transportation and even for the individual user. It has huge economic advantages and is environmentally friendly.”
According to the Innoson Group Chairman, the roll-out is a testament to the fact that Innoson is making Nigeria a hub for automobile manufacturing in Africa.
The Innoson Group founder further stated: “I observed that normal diesel and petrol are very expensive now in Nigeria. So, we have to find an alternative. This is to also ensure that the purchase of vehicles is made easier and their maintenance less costly.
“This way, the average Nigerians can afford to buy vehicles and operate them without the challenge of high maintenance costs.
“We have now ventured into LNG, CNG-powered vehicles and are also trying to do electric vehicles. Electric vehicles, as well as LNG and CNG-powered vehicles are the future. The durability and running costs of these vehicles are comparatively better. They have been tested and found reliable, just that many people don’t know about them yet.”
Chukwuma, therefore, recommended a comprehensive public enlightenment on the advantages of embracing vehicles powered by CNG and LNG.
He also informed his guests that patronage of the vehicles has, so far, been very encouraging, disclosing that many more procurement orders had been received from Benin city where some units are already in use due to existing support facilities.
“Most of the orders in my factory are from Benin. This means they already understand the advantages of using these vehicles. We produce according to demand. We will be happy to see more people patronise local products.
Thumbs up for BOI, NADDC
Two of the strategic bodies in the automotive industry, BOI and the National Automotive Design and Development Council {NADDC}, received a thumbs-up from the Innoson Group Chairman, who commended them for the roles they have been play
ing in the success story of the Nnewi auto plant.
He was reacting to Engr. Emeka Nzewi’s reference to him as an investor who symbolises BOI’s willingness to always assist genuine ventures.
The BOI MD’s representative had described Chukwuma as a manufacturer who is highly regarded in the bank where he has earned a Hall of Fame honour due to the track record of credibility and reliability he has built in relating with the bank over the years.
Speaking later, the Innoson founder urged serious investors in the auto industry not to hesitate to approach BOI for loans, disclosing that he always approaches the bank for financial support every time he wants to embark on a new project.
Similarly, he encouraged serious-minded investors who want to start a new project in the auto industry, to go to the NADDC for support, stating “NADDC and BOI are always ready to support investors in the auto industry.”
MAN Applauds
Guided by Chief Chukwuma, the MAN President and his team had shortly on arrival embarked on a tour of the sections of the expansive IVM plant in Nnewi, where the natural gas vehicles are produced.
Subsequently, speaker after speaker showered encomia on the Innoson Chairman for embarking of such a project, with words and phrases like icon, Pride of Africa
Visibly impressed, the MAN President said the welter of activities going on at the various sections of the factory during the tour, was a testament to the fact that IVM is engaged in real manufacturing, and not mere SKD {semi-knock down} assembly.
Meshioye further stated, “We have test-run one of the vehicles and it is very amazing. The gas-powered vehicles are the future for Nigeria. This is very innovative. It costs so much to transport goods from one place to another because of the cost of p
etrol and diesel. Gas (CNG/LNG) is cheaper and better. It is the way to go.”
Also speaking, Chukwudozie, who is also the Executive Director, Dozzy Group, described the production of the clean energy vehicles by Innoson as “a legacy project.”
Chukwudozie assured that gas is sufficiently available in Anambra State even as she sounded optimistic that Innoson would leverage this advantage to dominate the market.
“Innoson is the pride of manufacturers. He has done so well. He is manufacturing vehicles. We have gone round and have seen things for ourselves, and we are so proud of him,” she said.
Before leaving the IVM plant, the Director General, Segun Ajayi-Kadiri; assured Chukwuma that MAN would not take him and his achievements as a manufacturer for granted, which was why, according to him, the association had recommended him to a reputable organisation in Ghana for an international award.