The experience of countries around the world in the fields of central gas and autogas shows that these are two areas that bring many benefits. With new technologies using LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and CNG (compressed natural gas) – two clean, environmentally friendly fuels that reduce costs, save energy, and increase efficiency – Vietnam has already been able to exploit, process, and produce them.
According to Dr. Nguyen Sy Thang, Chairman of the Vietnam Gas Association, with the current capacity of domestic enterprises, Vietnam can apply scientific and technological advances from developed countries to use LPG/CNG in urban areas and transportation, thereby contributing to reducing environmental pollution and combating climate change.
In reality, central gas and autogas are new, potential, and promising fields. Although some initial successful results have been achieved, they are still not commensurate with the potential, strengths, and requirements of national development.
To reduce environmental pollution, fight climate change, and work toward a clean and green environment, PetroVietnam has just issued Resolution No. 2958 approving the conversion and use of compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel for all cars of its member units in Ho Chi Minh City and Ba Ria–Vung Tau province (about 500 vehicles).
Accordingly, the group assigned PetroVietnam Gas Corporation (PV Gas) and PetroVietnam Southern Gas Trading Joint Stock Company (PV Gas South) to prepare and submit conversion and CNG usage plans for the vehicles of member units for approval by the competent authorities. At the same time, PV Gas and PV Gas South must promptly invest in installing conversion kits and using CNG for cars, as well as building CNG filling stations and selling CNG to member units of the industry, ensuring convenience, safety, and economic efficiency for users.
According to Mr. Doan Van Nhuom, General Director of PV Gas South, the conversion of vehicle fuel is essential, as it helps reduce fuel costs significantly (by 30–50%), while reducing environmental pollution, thereby effectively implementing PetroVietnam’s policy of promoting internal resources and the oil and gas sector’s cooperation programs with Ho Chi Minh City and Ba Ria–Vung Tau province.
Also according to Mr. Doan Van Nhuom, PV Gas South has invested in CNG supply sources, including one CNG mother station at My Xuan A Industrial Zone with a capacity of 70 million m³/year. In addition, CNG Vietnam Joint Stock Company (a member of PV Gas South) has also invested in one mother station with a capacity of 30 million m³/year (expected to increase to 50 million m³/year in the near future).
For daughter stations (CNG filling stations for cars), PV Gas South has one station at 2 Pho Quang Street, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, with a filling capacity of about 250 cars per day, sufficient to meet the needs of vehicles of units in Ho Chi Minh City.
In terms of transport facilities, PV Gas South has invested in a total of 26 CNG transport vehicles with a capacity of 4,250 Nm³ of CNG. PV Gas South has also successfully converted all of its company vehicles to run on CNG. In Vung Tau, PV Gas South has invested in a filling station located on the company’s land on 30-4 Street, Ward 9, Vung Tau City, with a capacity of 3,000 Nm³/h.
With this capacity, PV Gas South expects to complete the conversion of vehicle fuel to run on CNG for member units within 4 months, so that by 9/2010, all work will be completed, fulfilling the task assigned by the group.
(Sài Gòn Giải Phóng 23/4)
