Following President Bola Tinubu’s cancellation of the fuel subsidy on May 29, Nigerians have grown more creative.
The abrupt end to the oil subsidy program made by Tinubu resulted in a significant increase in gasoline prices. Petrol is now sold at a price exceeding N600 per little, up from an average of N200.
The cost of transportation, as well as tangible and intangible commodities, has increased as a result of the increase in gasoline prices. The conversion of gasoline-powered buses to those that can run on compressed natural gas (CNG) is one method the government is attempting to save transportation costs, but electricity generators receive no attention from the authorities.
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Nigeria as a whole continues to experience power outages. The country’s accessibility to electricity globally, with about 92 million persons out of the country’s 200 million population lacking access to power, according to the Energy Progress Report 2022, released by Tracking SDG 7.
According to the report, which was created in collaboration with the International Energy Agency, International Renewable Energy Agency, United Nations Statistics Division, World Bank, and World Health Organization, Nigeria had the largest access deficit, with a deficit of 54 million people, followed by Ethiopia with a deficit of 56 million people, and Pakistan with a deficit of 72 million people.
According to Anaedoonline.ng, the country’s power grid has continued to fail on a regular basis, keeping the few powered villages in the dark for several days.
Nigerians turn to alternative power sources, the least expensive of which is the usage of power generators of various capacities, to enjoy electricity in their homes. The folks need premium motor spirit to power these generators, which is now completely out of reach for the majority of the poor people.
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To try to outbid the amount of money spent on petrol, Nigerians have taken their destiny in their hands by converting their gasoline generators to gas.
The component that delivers a mixture of gasoline and air to a spark-ignition engine must be changed as the first stage in this process. A gas-powered carburetor will take its place. After that, a long hose and a gas cylinder are required.
The hose that connects the carburetor to the cylinder, where it receives its new gasoline, will be used. Although some claimed the carburetor could be used alternately for petrol or petrol, this renders the generator’s tank worthless.
For these power generators, people utilise liquefied natural gas (LNG), the same gas they use for cooking, even though the government advises CNG for converted automobiles.
Newsmen findings showed that the use of gas for generators started as far back as 2014, but with a very insignificant number of people who accepted the innovation. Today, the high cost of petrol is forcing many into adopting the initiative.
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In addition to saving money, it has been claimed that using petrol to power generators lowers carbon monoxide emissions and lengthens engine life. It minimises the risk of breathing in fumes while preserving the environment.
The general people is still quite dubious about the security of using gas to power their generators, though. Many people have chosen against converting their petrol generators because they are afraid there might be explosions.
The silence of the government on the new development is not helping people in making informed decisions. Also, experts are not contributing to the discussion as the conversion is left in the hands of technicians and mechanics, who may not understand the pros and cons of the new idea.
Barr. Kehinde Bamiwola revealed to Newsmen that he changed his generator from a petrol model to a gas one about a month ago.
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He claims that he now spends half less each day on petrol for his 6KVa generator than he did previously.
Bamiwola said he understood the concern for safety, but added that the same gas that is used for cooking over open flames in the kitchen cannot get much riskier when used with outside generators.
Abeokuta resident Sulaimon Babatunde praised it as safe and affordable when he said: “I’ve been using it since five days ago, and my 12kg petrol has never finished. It’s very safe and affordable.”
The testimony of those who have used LNG for their power generators thus far has demonstrated that they have been able to reduce what they usually spent in fueling their power generators, but the questions about safety remain unanswered by those who should know.
Kolawole Ogunwemimo, a mechanical engineer in Ogun, claimed that while using petrol for power generators is inexpensive, it requires caution.
Ogunwemimo stated that: “Leakages in Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, are not easily noticed and are prone to explosion if not well handled and maintained.”
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He explained that, “A converted petrol engine to LPG will have less efficiency because it was not originally designed for such fuel compared to an engine that is designed for such, though it might be more cost-effective than PMS.
“We must emphasise that they are prone to explosion if not well maintained and monitored. This is where the government should come in and enlighten the masses.”
In the midst of this debate, some have recommended that Nigerians embrace solar energy as a backup energy source while also urging the government to revamp the power industry and protect Nigerians from the risks associated with looking for alternate sources of power.
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