‘we’ll crash the price of CNG kits, -C’River govt. insist

From Ene Asuquo, Calabar

Cross River state government has disclosed that it has received the first 50 out of the 500 free kits to enhance the conversion process, maintaining that each kit comes with a cylinder.

The state Commissioner for transportation, Mr. Ekpenyong Cobham made the disclosure in his office in Calabar while addressing journalists

Mr. Cobham stated that the state is hopeful that once they are able to take the first five hundred, the state will qualify to ask for more.

“We’re hopeful that once we are able to take the first five hundred, we will qualify to ask for more”, he maintained.

He also stated that the state is also engaging the financial institutions to try to work out a payment procedure, stressing that the average cost of certified kits is about N600,000 to N650,000 maintaining that it is a huge sum.

“Our engagement with them is to work out a 36 months payment plan to be able to make sure that we can bring to bear a seamless process to achieve this milestone” he stated.

“We are committed to seal the deal with the banks that the CNG kits are available to the extent that people will be able to access it and pay gradually when these free ones are off”.

“In translation, this means that if we had 300 commercial vehicles, by the time we are able to achieve 200 conversions, that means we’ll be able to crash the price for the driver who’s still left with PMS to know that he quickly has to get his vehicle to be converted to conform”.

The Commissioner regretted that whatever is standardized, some people try to fake it to circumvent the process. “We are using the type 3 hi-tech cylinder which can withstand the heat of 100° C. The process is so standardized that it is comparable to anywhere in the world”.

“I am a commissioner for transport, so my area of concern is not only the technology transfer but the value that the process is bringing to the system in terms of transportation and the fact that we have an alternative source of energy which the average Cross Riverian can benefit from”.

“For this free 500 kits, we are going to sit down to study the statistics according to the local government. We’ll prioritize commercial vehicles, government vehicles and certain people which will be used to experience the efficiency of the conversion”.

“We intend to set-up a conversion center in Ikom, we are going to set up three mother stations which will enable the process in the three senatorial districts”. The rest will spring up according to economic activities.