A group, Ardova Plc–Diadem Energy consortium, is set to expand gas infrastructure, targeting 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refuelling sites nationwide, to address refuelling shortage and more access to customers.
The Chairman of Diadem Group, Dr George Eluwa and Chairman Ardova Plc, Dr Abdul-Wasiu Sowami, jointly made the announcement in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.
The move follows the consortium agreement to acquire Powergas, one of Africa’s largest compressed natural gas producers and virtual pipeline distributors from Africa Infrastructure Fund I (“AIF I”).
According to the statement, Ardova Plc of the consortium, a Nigerian integrated energy and infrastructure company, will deploy CNG infrastructure across its retail network.
It said the organisation is targeting 100 CNG refuelling sites nationwide within 24 months, expanding access to gas for commercial fleets and motorists while supporting Nigeria’s drive to increase domestic gas utilisation.
“The Ardova–Diadem consortium intends to expand Powergas’ compression capacity across viable gas-producing corridors.
“Creating firm offtake for associated and non-associated gas, supporting flare reduction and unlocking further investment across the gas value chain,” it stated.
The statement said the acquisition, expected to be completed by the end of 2026, would combine Powergas’ gas sourcing relationships, compression infrastructure and industrial customer base with Diadem’s virtual pipeline logistics.
It said the deal would also leverage Ardova’s nationwide retail, logistics and distribution network to achieve the target, with plans to extend the platform into the wider West African market over time.
Eluwa expressed confidence that with the acquisition of power gas and the combination of the consortium technical expertise, the move would facilitate the feasibility of reaching more customers across the country
“Having worked closely with Powergas as its virtual-pipeline logistics partner, we have seen first-hand the transformative potential of taking natural gas beyond the conventional pipeline network.
“This consortium brings together every link in the gas value chain: Powergas compresses it, Diadem moves it and Ardova brings it within reach of customers across Nigeria.
“Together, we are building a platform that can deliver cleaner, more affordable energy to industries, fleets and communities across Nigeria, in line with the Pi-CNG and Decade of Gas ambitions,” he said.
Sowami, Ardova’s Executive Chairman, reiterated that Nigeria’s next era of energy development would be built on gas and delivered at scale across the country.
He said the partnership would connect Nigeria’s abundant gas resources to industry, power and transportation, supporting President Bola Tinubu’s Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV) and the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas programme.
“Our ambition is to deliver more affordable, lower-emission energy and lower transportation costs for Nigerians, while building a gas platform with relevance far beyond Nigeria,” he said.
Similarly, Managing Director of Ardova Plc, Abiola Babatunde-Ojo, said the power gas acquisition would bring to bear the requisite infrastructure, reach and capabilities to deliver tangible benefits to customers nationwide.
“Our focus now is execution: expanding compression capacity, bringing CNG into our retail network and connecting more industries and fleets to a reliable domestic energy source.
“We are building a platform that will serve customers at scale today and grow with Nigeria’s energy needs for decades to come,” he said.
Speaking on its acquisition, Powergas Vice-Chairman, Pulak Sen, described its compression backbone and Ardova’s national reach as a natural fit that could expand into new markets and geographies as well as play a leading role in delivering Nigeria’s Auto-Gas vision.(NAN)
