Pakistan now has highest number of CNG-run vehicles

[EagleEyes]

Pakistan now has highest number of CNG-run vehicles

By Muhammad Yasir

KARACHI: Pakistan has become the country with the highest number of CNG-run vehicles in the world leaving Brazil and Argentine behind in the race as largest user of natural gas vehicles.

According to statistics compiled by CNG Owners Association of Pakistan, the number of CNG-run cars have exceeded to 1.6 million throughout the country. The number of CNG filling stations has also grown largely in the country. The number of operational CNG pumps has increased to 17, 000, while around 200 CNG pumps are being established and 4,000 investors have shown interest to set up fuel stations of this gas.

Brazil, the second largest user of natural gas, has 1.42 million CNG-run vehicles. The third largest user, Argentine, has 1.35 million consumers. Private owners run around 70 percent of CNG filling stations while 30 percent are run by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).

Malik Khuda Baksh, President CNG Owners Association said these figures will be informed to International CNG rating organisation (Natural Gas Vehicle International), which would rank Pakistan as number one country using CNG in vehicles after its own calculation. He said that country has shown an extra-ordinary growth of 5.5 million vehicles in the last seven months of the current year as the number of CNG-run vehicles stood at 10.5 million at the beginning of the year.

He claimed that gas fuel had saved about $2.2 million of country’s foreign exchange and this savings would be exceeded to $3 million at the end of current fiscal year. Gas fuel helps protect the environment from pollution as well.

“Now, there is a need to provide CNG to public buses or heavy vehicles and private sector is seeking government cooperation in this regard,” he added.

Mr Khuda Buksh said that the CNG station owners body has initiated to convert a diesel-run bus into CNG-run bus at the cost of almost 0.2 million. He urged government to form an exclusive loan facility to attract big investors in this sector and allow import of CNG-run vehicles and kits in the country, so that diesel consumption could decline and the country’s oil import bill could be minimised. Experts believed that gas reserves would not be sufficient to meet the country’s gas requirements. Pakistan’s gas demand and supply projections indicate a widening gap of approximately 500 MMCFD by the year 2010.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[EagleEyes]

We care so much about environment! Or is it just gas prices?

 

[Neo]

We care so much about environment! Or is it just gas prices?

Its the latter webby, CNG is getting more and more popular in the private sector. Eventhough the amount of disposable incomes has grown strongly its mainly the 25-30 million strong middle class that owns a car.

GoP is now looking into conversion to CNG in public transport aswell, the infrastructure is being modified to meet the growing demand.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Its the latter webby, CNG is getting more and more popular in the private sector. Eventhough the amount of disposable incomes has grown strongly its mainly the 25-30 million strong middle class that owns a car.

GoP is now looking into conversion to CNG in public transport aswell, the infrastructure is being modified to meet the growing demand.

 

[solid snake]

Stupid moment here: don't most cars in Brazil run on ethanol?

 

[Neo]

Stupid moment here: don't most cars in Brazil run on ethanol?

Yes, Brazil is world's largest producer of ethanol and she recently passed USA is largest consumer aswell.

 

[Bull]

Very Commendable indeed.

Brazil, the second largest user of natural gas, has 1.42 million CNG-run vehicles.
He claimed that gas fuel had saved about $2.2 million of country’s foreign exchange and this savings would be exceeded to $3 million at the end of current fiscal year.

The figures quoted above says a savings of just $2 per CNG car per year,thats not worth any mention, it has to be more than that.

 

[F.O.X]

I think we should encourage the private sector more for the CNG promotion to protect our envirement most of our rickshaws still are on cheep petrol & discharge a lot of hydrogen, if in the night you visit the inner Lahore like Anarkali you will not be able to see for much distance bcoz of smoke created by the Petrol Vehicals.


Regards
Wilco

 

[sigatoka]

What I want to know is the taxation treatment of natural gas in Pakistan for car usage vis-a-vis treatment levied on foreign petrol. If the reason that natural gas usage is so prevalent is due to higher tax levied on petrol, then that is a cause of regret not celebration. The reason is that it is inefficient usage of a precious natural resouce when cheaper imported substitutes are available.

 

[IceCold]

Number of CNG vehicles in country reaches 1,080,000

KARACHI: Number of vehicles running at CNG all over the country has become 1,080,000 which is 116 per cent more compared to June 2004.

According to the report, an increase in the number of CNG stations in the country has also been recorded and this number with a 172 per cent increase has become 1,488.

In June 2004, the number of vehicles running at CNG throughout the country was 500,000 while the price of petrol was Rs.40 per litre.

During these three years, gas production in the country increased by 188 MMCFD.

According to the Pakistan Petroleum Information Service, production of gas increased by 566 billion cubic feet from December 2006 to June 2007 and has reached 32.3 trillion cubic feet.

The analysts said that the reason of the vehicles’ change over to CNG is the continuous increase in the prices of petrol and diesel since 2004.

 

[Bull]

Number of CNG vehicles in country reaches 1,080,000

There is severe discrepency in the figures quoted. Earlier it said 1.42mn and now 1.08mn.

Savings of mere $2 per car for a year. Thats not at all worth mentioning.

 

[IceCold]

There is severe discrepency in the figures quoted. Earlier it said 1.42mn and now 1.08mn.

Savings of mere $2 per car for a year. Thats not at all worth mentioning.

Any bull your point is??

 

[Bull]

Any bull your point is??

Thats the pt. Discrepency in figures and per capita savings. At a mere $2 per annum savings whats the great incentive of going for CNG.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Thats the pt. Discrepency in figures and per capita savings. At a mere $2 per annum savings whats the great incentive of going for CNG.

Lower pollution.

I don't think the direct savings from swapping over from petrol are high at all. In fact the lower mileage might actually cancel any benefit out, but that would depend upon the price difference between the two.

However the indirect savings and benefits, in terms of pollution control, reduction in health costs, reduction in lost labor/productivity etc. would potentially be massive.

found that the buses fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG) exhibited considerably lower exhaust emissions than those fueled by diesel. The level of particulate matter in the exhaust was found to be 92 percent lower and nitrogen oxides 33 percent lower for CNG buses.

 

[Neo]

Over one million vehicles converted to CNG mode ​

ISLAMABAD (October 10 2007): As many as 1,080,000 vehicles were converted to the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) mode by June this year as compared to 500,000 in June 2004, thus marking an increase of 116 percent. Encouraging the use of CNG as an alternate fuel for automotives is the government's policy to control environment degradation and save foreign exchange in import of liquid fuels.

Also, the number of operational CNG stations by June 2007 has risen to 1,488 against 546 in June 2004, hence increasing by 172 percent, according to a three-year performance report of the government. In last three years, the government has taken various policy initiatives to enhance the overall availability of gas for domestic, industrial and other economically important uses such as power generation.

During the same period, supply of gas was increased from 1,197 to 2,466 towns and villages, thus marking an increase by 106 percent. Under Khushhal Pakistan Programme, 1,190 projects were launched under the government's directives at a cost of Rs 35 billion, with 19 billion funded by the government. About 715 projects have been completed while 475 are being implemented.

Production of gas in last three years has increased by 188 MMCFD, which is equivalent to about 1.64 million metric ton of furnace oil per year worth 0.59 billion dollars at an average price of 360 dollars per metric ton. In the power sector, 16 works of 500 KV costing to Rs 21.228 million have been completed during last three years to improve the capability of transmission system.

As many as 18 works costing Rs 34.869 billion for improvement of Transmission System, are under progress and are expected to be completed by June 2008. The Water and Power Regulatory Authority has given a record of 28,82,671 new connections during last three years. The connections include 25,67,744 domestic, 2,41,068 commercial, 28,866 industrial, 44,253 tube-wells and 740 other connections.

The Alternate Energy Development Board (AEDB) has launched a policy for development of new-able energy for power generation, which has been approved by the Economic Coordination Committee.

The AEDB is pursuing the target of implementing 700 MW of wind power projects through private sector by 2010. Letters of Intents have been issued to 90 national and international investors for 50 MW wind power projects.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]