In line with its commitment to environmental sustainability, innovation and premium customer service, Total Nigeria plc, a leader in the Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas sector, has launched the first solar-powered service station in West Africa and Nigeria in Lagos.
The newly refurbished T-air service station in Onigbagbo, Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way, is equipped with SunPower solar panels, and features zero emissions of harmful green house gases, zero noise pollution and a renewable energy source. SunPower is a company of the Total Group.
According to the company, the construction of the solar-powered service station is a part of efforts aimed at providing energy solutions that are efficient and environmentally friendly.
Alexis Vovk, managing director, Total Nigeria, speaking at the commissioning on Thursday, said: “Reflecting the Total Group’s determination to contribute to local development and establish long-term roots, Total Nigeria plc has already rolled out numerous T-air projects, 58 already throughout Nigeria. The company plans to adapt its network of over 500 service stations spread across the country to this new identity by 2017.”
He said the Total would continue to show its leadership strength in investing and improving the standard of its stations, saying “this year alone, we have commissioned 16 new T-air image stations with the commissioning also of another solar-powered service station in Abuja later in the year.”
Noting that over 80 million Nigerians lack access to electricity thereby resulting in their use of costly and sometimes dangerous sources of energy, Vovk said “Total believes that access to energy is a fundamental necessity which greatly impacts on access to education, communication, information, and the overall development of individuals and societies.
“This is why Total is exploring several creative solutions to fulfilling these needs, part of which includes Awango by Total solar lamps, hybrid energy solutions for the telecommunications industry, solar-powered home systems, and our newly launched first solar-powered service station using the SunPower Technology in West Africa and in Nigeria.”
Momar Nguer, senior vice president, Total M & S, and president, Total AMO, said: “This laudable innovation is part of our Commitment to Better Energy and it depicts the Group’s dedication to continuous improvement, an identity that sets us apart in the global energy industry. It is not borne out of purely economic reasons but out of Total’s passion to make sustainable and positive impact on the lives of people in developing societies.”
At a time when governments around the world battle with ways of meeting their energy needs, Total believes that this initiative will add value to the Nigerian government’s effort, and that with such an innovation, the cost of doing business will be reduced and this would lead to ensuring further investments for economic growth and development.
FEMI ASU
