Today, within the 4th International Exhibition “Gas Distribution and Effective Gas Usage. GasSUF 2006”, the Sokolniki Culture & Exhibition Centre has hosted the 4th joint meeting of the RF Government and Noncommercial Partnership Russian Gas Society’s Commissions for Natural and Liquefied Petroleum Gas Vehicles.

The meeting was moderated by Viktor Stativko, Deputy Chairman of Russian Gas Society’s Commission, Chairman of the Board of Noncommercial Partnership Russian National Gas Vehicle Association.

Present at the meeting were members of the RF Federal Assembly, heads of structural units and specialists with the RF Industry & Energy Ministry and Agriculture Ministry, OAO Gazprom and its subsidiaries, RF regional authorities and companies and organizations manufacturing gas fuelling equipment.

The participants noted that the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) as engine fuel had been steadily growing over recent years in Russia. CNG sales at gas fuelling compressor stations increased almost three-fold in 2005 versus 2000 to 237 MMcm.

Employing CNG vehicles has enabled in 2005 only to replace over 175,000 t of high-octane gasoline and reduce pollutant emissions by 90,000 t, with over RUR 2.3 bln thus saved.

The Commissions took into account that Gazprom had developed a draft special-purpose Comprehensive Program “The Development of a Gas Fuelling Network and Natural Gas Vehicles & Equipment” stipulating the construction of 200 new gas fuelling stations.

The Program implementation will help boost gas fuelling capacities to 2.6 bcm/y and annually fuel with natural gas over 400 units of motor vehicles and agricultural equipment.

The Commissions ratified the draft Program and supported the idea of developing stationary and mobile gas fuelling units along the M-1 (Brest - Moscow) and Blue Ring (Moscow – Tula – Ryazan – Kasimov – Murom - Vladimir) motorways.

The Commissions recommended that regional authorities of the Russian Federation:

• view the conversion of vehicles and equipment to natural gas as a practical measure within regional health care and agriculture & industry development projects;
• commence practical implementation of expanded natural gas vehicles use provisions included in agreements on cooperation with Gazprom;
• assist companies engaged in natural gas vehicles-related facilities;
• initiate the preparation and implementation of NGV use incentives within the authority of an RF subject.

The Commissions recommended that the Industry & Energy Ministry and Transport Ministry of Russia incorporate provisions covering transport vehicle and agricultural equipment gasification in a program for higher energy consumption efficiency and proposals on comprehensive transportation corridor development.

It was also recommended that in its gas supply balance for 2007 and subsequent years Gazprom earmark gas for NGV purposes in the amount that would meet the requirements of existing and new gas fuelling stations irrespective of industry subordination and ownership patterns.