Under the Directives of the Minister of Petroleum: Cargas Explores Nigerian Market Entry to Share Egypt’s Pioneering Expertise in Natural Gas Vehicle Conversion

Under the Directives of the Minister of Petroleum: Cargas Explores Nigerian Market Entry to Share Egypt’s Pioneering Expertise in Natural Gas Vehicle Conversion In line with the directives of Eng. Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, to bolster regional and international cooperation and unlock new African markets for Egyptian petroleum companies, a delegation from the Natural Gas Vehicles Company (Cargas) recently concluded a business visit to Nigeria. The visit aimed to explore opportunities for entering the Nigerian market and participating in national initiatives to expand the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). Through this move, Cargas intends to share its extensive know-how and Egypt's leading experience in converting cars and buses to run on natural gas. During the visit, Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, received the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohamed Fouad, along with the Cargas delegation. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral ties in natural gas utilization, with a particular emphasis on CNG applications within the transportation sector. The Nigerian Minister emphasized his country's eagerness to deepen cooperation with Egypt to leverage its advanced expertise in this field. He noted that achieving the ambitious goals of Nigeria's Presidential CNG Initiative relies heavily on forging strong partnerships and exchanging technical and operational expertise. Minister Ekpo also lauded Egypt's years of sustained success in natural gas vehicle conversion. He expressed his appreciation for the readiness of both the Egyptian government and Cargas to support the Nigerian market by transferring the necessary skills and technologies to develop this vital sector. In the same vein, the Cargas delegation held a series of intensive meetings with various government bodies and institutions tied to Nigeria's gas, energy, and transportation sectors. Key meetings included discussions with Patience Oikunle, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, and Ismaila Ahmed, Head of the Presidential CNG Initiative (Pi-CNG). These discussions centered on joint cooperation mechanisms and rollout plans for CNG projects in the Nigerian market. Furthermore, the delegation engaged with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). These meetings explored collaborative opportunities in building the infrastructure for CNG fueling stations and conversion centers, localized manufacturing of components, technical capacity building, and broader support for expanding natural gas use in transportation. This strategic visit aligns with the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources' broader vision to enhance Egypt's footprint in African markets. By exporting its distinctive expertise in natural gas utilization and the transition to cleaner fuels, Egypt aims to foster economic integration and developmental cooperation across the continent.