75% of Iranian CNG Industry Localized

The Minister of Petroleum, Gholamhossein Nozari, has said that currently 75% of CNG industry has been nationalized, which is an appropriate progress and achievement compared to the duration of this industry’s operations and activities. The minister added the large national natural gas supply network, the natural gas reserves, and nationalization of a large segment of this industry are part of appropriate opportunities raised for CNG Industry in the country. He added based on set plans, an additional 400 new single-purpose CNG stations will be launched into operation by the year-end (March 2010), with the total number of these CNG stations at 871. He also emphasized the need to adjust the price of natural gas as an essential means for regulation of the fuel basket. The minister of oil reiterated that the construction of CNG stations should be in proportion to the number of dual-fuel autos, while underscoring that it is necessary for the private sector to play a more significant role in this industry. He reminded that in CNG Industry, safety is a major topic of importance, while elaborating that at times usage of non-standard equipment in unlicensed workshops have caused irreparable problems and damages. Nozari reminded that usage of CNG and its replacement for gasoline has led to almost US$34 million in savings in gasoline imports. He added currently there are plans to construct another seven new refineries. “In the year 1386 (March 2007-2008), there was one CNG station for 2,400 autos; while currently there is one CNG station for 1,600 autos”, the minister stressed. Furthermore, Nozari reported on the visit of Russian Minister of Energy Sergei Shmatko to Tehran during the coming months. He added: “On the sidelines of Gas Exporting Countries Assembly in Qatar, negotiations were held with the Russian minister of energy, and we believe that with Shmatko’s visit to Tehran during the coming months the level of the two countries’ joint activities in energy sector will be boosted.” Elsewhere, head of Transportation and Fuel Consumption Management Committee, Mohammad Rouyanian said that during the past four years the consumption of CNG in the national fuel market has increased 14-fold, rising from 0.5% to 7%, while the national capacity for usage of CNG stands at 13%. He added that currently there are 1.4 million dual-fuel autos across the country and there is need to build more than 1,000 CNG stations in the current year (March 2009-10). He emphasized that the Ministry of Petroleum has tried its utmost to become independent in provision of the energy of transportation sector during the recent years. Nozari noted that Iran can become a gasoline exporter via increasing vehicles' CNG consumption. Speaking during the 2nd National CNG Conference, Rouyanian noted cardiovascular diseases and accidents are two major mortality factors in the country. Meanwhile, he added, given the fact that development is tied to the transportation system, economic-wise; this sector should take center stage. “Meanwhile, although there have been some setbacks in transportation system, we are trying to fulfill the set plans”, Rouyanian emphasized. He underscored that air pollution; excessive consumption of gasoline; and dependence on gasoline will not come to an end unless the quota of CNG is adjusted in the national fuel basket.  - Iran News, Iran