NNPC to Open 70 Smart Fuel Stations Across Nigeria

(NNPC. Photo by Reuters)

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company has announced plans to open 50 to 70 smart energy stations across the country within the next six months.

The new facilities will transform traditional filling stations into modern energy hubs where customers can buy petrol, charge electric vehicles, get liquefied petroleum gas and compressed natural gas, wash their cars and buy food all in one place.

The first of these stations has been commissioned in Abuja.

It operates 24 hours and allows customers to dispense fuel themselves using a mobile app on their phones.

Customers download the NNPC app, create a wallet, load money and generate a code to dispense the exact amount of fuel they want.

Staff will be available to help customers who cannot use the digital system.

The company dismissed concerns that the self-service model would cut jobs, saying the stations would actually create more employment.

The new hubs will need more staff than traditional filling stations to manage the technology, EV charging and other services.

The Abuja station is completely powered by solar energy and has 16 pumps for petrol, two for diesel, and six electric vehicle charging points capable of fully charging a car in 30 to 40 minutes.

Plans include adding liquefied gas dispensing and a conversion centre for compressed natural gas.

The facilities will also feature quick restaurants, coffee shops and automated car washes.

More smart stations are being planned for Kano and other parts of the country.

The transformation follows deregulation of the oil sector and changing consumer demands for quality products, faster service and new energy solutions including electric vehicle charging.