However, the development of vehicles using LPG and CNG still faces many difficulties. Similarly, the central gas system for high-rise apartments has not received much attention from investors.
o find solutions for developing gas in urban transport and residential buildings, on December 11, the Vietnam Gas Association, in coordination with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Transport, and the Ministry of Construction, will organize a seminar on “Application of LPG/CNG in Urban Gas and Transportation.”
According to Mr. Trần Viết Tuấn – Vice President of the Vietnam Gas Association: “Gas-fueled cars (Autogas) appeared in Vietnam in the 1990s, but only in recent years has the AutoGas market truly taken its first steps of development.” Currently, it is estimated that there are about 1,000 LPG-fueled cars nationwide, mainly taxis concentrated in major cities such as Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City.
To use LPG/CNG, vehicles must be equipped with an additional device or converter kit. This is a completely closed system, simple, and does not alter the original vehicle structure. Field surveys (both on highways and in urban areas) show that using Autogas can bring businesses tens of millions of VND in savings per vehicle during its operation.
However, the limited number of refueling stations is hindering this clean vehicle type (Hanoi has only 4 stations, Ho Chi Minh City has 3 LPG refueling stations).
Also according to Mr. Trần Viết Tuấn, to strongly develop Autogas in urban transport, the Government needs breakthrough policies such as: import tax exemption and VAT reduction for conversion devices or components not yet manufactured domestically; corporate income tax exemptions/reductions for businesses developing LPG technology, conversion and installation of LPG refueling stations; land rent reductions for areas serving the development of the LPG station system as well as workshops for manufacturing and installing conversion equipment; mandatory regulations requiring public transport vehicles such as buses and taxis in major cities to use clean, environmentally friendly fuels.
As for the central gas system, some new urban project investors have adopted it; however, the investment cost per apartment is relatively high (about 1% of the apartment’s total value). In addition, Vietnam’s standards have not yet required high-rise buildings (over five floors) to install a central gas system, so many investors are still reluctant to adopt it.
Regarding the safety of the central gas system, Mr. Trần Viết Tuấn affirmed: “Safety is almost absolute, since the entire system is equipped with safety devices and alarms. In case of leakage or fire, it can isolate each section, each area, or the whole system through control devices at the central station.”
(Lao Dong 7/12)
