By Steve Agbota
APM Terminals Apapa has announced a one-year roadmap towards transitioning from diesel to gas, and eventually to solar and battery-powered solutions.
In a press statement issued on Monday, Terminal Manager Steen Knudsen told newsmen: “As a company, we acknowledge transition is not an overnight journey, and so we have designed a roadmap on how we move from the current state to the future state where our operations are fully decarbonised.
“Currently, we have commissioned two new CNG generators of 4MW capacity in our terminal, which is shifting our reliance from diesel to gas as a fuel source for our power generation. This step also resonates with the Nigerian government’s commitment towards using gas for power generation.”
Knudsen added that with this shift, all the terminal’s reefer plugs, buildings, and lighting will be powered by gas.
He said replacing diesel with gas would reduce the terminal’s carbon emissions while continuing the transition to more environmentally friendly options as sustainable and renewable energy solutions become available.
He said: “In the next six to twelve months, we will further decarbonise our operations through an on-site solar solution, which will further displace our consumption by up to 30% and increase our self-generation capabilities.
“We are dedicated to reducing our carbon footprint worldwide, aiming for net zero emissions by 2040. Our approach integrates sustainable practices that boost efficiency while minimising environmental impact.”
It was recalled that the Federal Government, in early July, held a one-day Decarbonisation Summit aimed at addressing gaps in policy, financing, and technology hindering Nigeria’s transition to low-carbon infrastructure.
Head of Procurement at APM Terminals Nigeria, Chinyere Adenaike, described the terminal’s goal as achieving net zero ambition through full electrification of terminal equipment and 100% reliance on renewable electricity to power operations.
She said: “This vision can only be achieved through strong commitment and deeper collaboration from the government as well as through private investments in order to strengthen critical power infrastructure and introduce favourable regulations enabling this energy transition and sustainable port operations.
“We cannot achieve our net zero ambition alone. With this recognition, together with our global Energy Category Team, we have already begun wider engagements with key stakeholders like the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), local distribution companies, and renewable energy developers in the region.”
She added that the terminal intends to extend partnerships with relevant stakeholders to ease the deployment of renewable electricity solutions in Nigeria, overcoming current power supply challenges.
“Nigeria is blessed with high levels of solar radiation, which positions our country as a promising location for both large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal electricity projects, and we, as APM Terminals, are committed to leveraging this opportunity to make our operations green,” she said.
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