On November 16th 2010, in Vung Tau city, Petro Vietnam, PV Gas company and PV Gas South JSC organized the inauguration ceremony of the CNG station on the company's land in Nguyen An Ninh street, ward 9, with the capacity of 1800Nm3/h.

As known, CNG is compressed natural gas, with the essential component of methane (CH4) taken from natural gas fields, processed and compressed at high pressure (250atm) for storage. This type of fuel does not contain benzene and hydrocarbon, so when burning, it releases no toxic gases such as NO2, CO... and almost no dust. In the world, CNG is used to replace petrol due to superior advantages. CNG can be easily dispersed and does not agglomerate like gas vapor and LPG. If CNG leaks into the atmosphere, the risk of fire is less than half of gasoline so it limits the risk of fire.

Compressed natural gas technology first appeared in Vietnam with the introduction of CNG natural gas plant in Phu My I Industrial Zone, Tan Thanh district, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, which began operation in late August 2008. In Nay 2010, to limit environmental pollution and reduce climate change, for the clean and green environment, Vietnam Oil and Gas Group of issued Resolution No. 2958/NQ-DKVN approving the conversion and use of CNG fuel for cars of all members of the group in the areas of HCM city and Ba Ria-Vung Tau (about  600 vehicles).

Accordingly, the Group has assigned PV Gas and Gas South to prepare and submit to competent authorities to approve the conversion and use of CNG for vehicles of the members of the group. Also, PV Gas and PV Gas South must quickly invest in installing CNG converters for cars, building CNG loading stations and selling CNG for members of the group in the spirit of ensuring the convenience, safety and economic efficiency for users.

Immediately after Resolution 2958/NQ-DKVN was issued, PV Gas South has promoted the implementation of the project "Research and application of gasoline engines technology using compressed natural gas-CNG" (chaired by Dr. Nguyen Si Thang - Chairman of the Board of PV Gas South), PV Gas South has also called upon businesses in the industry to coordinate with them to perform the tasks that the group has assigned, well implement the conversion of fuel to CNG for gas-powered cars of the members of the group, call the response of the social community and develop this beneficial model. So far, approximately 1/3 of the vehicles that the group requires have switched to using CNG fuel.

According to Mr. Doan Van Nhuom - CEO of PV Gas South, the conversion from using fuel to CNG for vehicles is very essential, because it helps significantly reduce fuel cost (by 30-50%), reduce environmental pollution and well implement the policy of Vietnam Oil and Gas Group on developing internal resources as well as the cooperative program of the oil industry, HCM city and BR-VT province.

Not only that, the current price of CNG is lower than the price of petrol and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). This fuel is cheap, clean and suitable for services in major cities and industrial areas, especially in the situation of high oil prices in recent years. That is also why the experts have evaluated that CNG market has huge potential for development and is promising to bring profit and reputation to the oil industry for maintaining and cleaning the environment.

According to Mr Doan Van Nhuom, PV Gas South has now invested in CNG supplies, including a CNG compressing station (the main station) in My Xuan A Industrial Park with the capacity of 70 million m³ per year. In addition, Vietnam CNG JSC (a member of PV Gas South) has also invested in a main station with the capacity of 30 million m3 per year (its capacity is expected to raise to 50 million m3 per year in the future). For sub stations (CNG loading stations for cars), PV Gas South has a station in No. 2 Pho Quang, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City with the loading capacity of 400 cars per day, enough to meet the damand of units in the city.

About transportation, PV Gas South has invested in a total of 26 CNG trucks with the capacity of 4250Nm ³ CNG. PV Gas South has already successfully converted all of the company’s car to run on CNG. In Vung Tau, PV Gas South has built a station in the company's land on Nguyen An Ninh street, Ward 9, Vung Tau, with the loading capacity of 50 cars/h, equivalent to 800 cars per day.

Also, for the convenience of units in loading and using CNG, PV Gas South is implementing the installation of an additional loading station on Nguyen Huu Canh street, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City with the capacity of 400 vehicles per day. The project is expected tobe completed and put into use in early December 2010. At the same time, PV Gas South is also preparing to install a new station on Highway 51 in My Xuan commune, Tan Thanh district, Ba Ria Vung Tau with the same capacity and the station is expected to be put into use in the first quarter of 2010.

With this capability, PV Gas South is now calling upon businesses in the industry to implement Resolution 2958/NQ-DKVN of Vietnam Oil and Gas Group,coordinate with PV Gas South to perform the tasks that the group has assigned, well implement the conversion of fuel to CNG for gas-powered cars of the members of the group

It can be said that the potential of CNG in transport and industry in Vietnam is huge. The trend to use economic and environmentally friendly fuel in Vietnam will surely increase in the near future. Thus, PV Gas and PV Gas South have been actively planning to ensure the supply of CNG as well as fuel made from natural gas to promptly meet market needs and trend of the world.

By Duc Minh