Abuja: The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC Ltd.) is set to introduce between 50 and 70 smart self-service fuelling stations nationwide within the next six months. Dr Mumuni Dagazau, Executive Vice President, Downstream, NNPC Ltd., revealed this plan during the commissioning of the NNPC Retail Ltd. smart mega fuelling station in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the newly commissioned station, which operates with a 200-kilowatt-hour solar system, is strategically located along Bill Clinton Drive, Airport Road, close to the Flight Training School and the Nigerian Immigration Service Headquarters in Abuja. The facility boasts a storage capacity of 180,000 litres for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and 45,000 litres for Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), equipped with 16 PMS pumps and two AGO dispensing pumps.
The smart station offers a range of services including self-service fuel dispensing, electric vehicle (EV) charging, gas dispensing, automated car wash, and vehicle servicing. Dagazau emphasized that this initiative forms part of NNPC’s strategy to transition from traditional fuelling stations to modern energy hubs offering numerous energy and retail services.
Dagazau noted that the Abuja station is the first of many such facilities planned nationwide, with about four or five intended for Abuja and two more slated for Kano. He highlighted that the transformation to smart stations underlines NNPC’s commitment to addressing customer needs, providing access to diverse energy forms such as EV, electricity, gas, and petrol, thus evolving from a filling station to an energy hub.
Customers will be able to access services and make payments through the NNPC Retail mobile application, as stated by Dagazau. The stations will be operational 24/7, allowing customers to dispense fuel themselves or recharge their electric vehicles at their convenience. The facility is equipped with fast EV chargers capable of fully charging a vehicle within 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the vehicle and battery level.
Furthermore, the smart stations will offer Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), lubricant services, automated car wash, and other customer-oriented services. Existing stations will undergo modernization as part of the rollout, with new facilities developed based on customer demand.
Dagazau assured that the transformation would not result in job losses, stating that personnel will be needed to support customer service, automation, and EV charging. He emphasized the creation of jobs and the importance of integrating technology to enhance customer experience and satisfaction.
Customers will require the NNPC Retail application to access the self-service facility, but assistance will be available for those unable to operate the application. The station’s solar energy power underscores NNPC Ltd.’s commitment to incorporating renewable energy across its retail network, driven by changing customer expectations and technological advancements.
Dagazau concluded by highlighting the convenience offered by the new model, with plans to establish CNG conversion facilities at some of the smart stations, enabling vehicle conversions while accessing other services.