To date, nearly 900 taxis and buses nationwide have been converted to run on LPG. Several companies, including Cửu Long Transport Joint Stock Company, Đông Dương Company, and Petrolimex, are actively expanding their LPG-powered fleets.
According to Mr. Lê Thanh Hà, Deputy General Director of Cửu Long Transport JSC, after two years of converting gasoline engines to LPG, the company has saved over 30% in fuel costs. It is now exploring the use of compressed natural gas (CNG), which could reduce costs by up to 50% compared with gasoline.
Earlier, Sonadezi Company purchased 50 Daewoo CNG buses from Thành Công Automobile Group, as part of a contract for 500 units. These buses will be used to transport workers in industrial zones and serve public routes in Đồng Nai Province.
Under the 2009–2010 plan, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport will introduce 38 CNG buses on routes No. 30 (Chợ Tân Hương – Suối Tiên) and No. 91 (Bến xe Miền Tây – Chợ Nông sản Thủ Đức). By the end of 2010, another 800 buses are expected to operate using this clean fuel.
Mr. Huỳnh Kim Tước, Director of the HCMC Energy Conservation Center, stated that enterprises implementing natural gas projects benefit from favorable loan programs, such as the National Target Program on Energy Efficiency launched in 2007 with a total fund of USD 350 million. Additionally, Japan has provided a concessional loan of USD 50 million at 6.9% annual interest, repayable over 20 years.
Currently, there are only about 10 LPG refueling stations nationwide, insufficient for the growing number of vehicles. Mr. Hà noted that the main challenge lies in establishing refueling infrastructure, as Vietnam still lacks clear technical standards for gas refilling or sets investment requirements too high for local businesses.
Moreover, Vietnam’s gas reserves are limited. According to the HCMC Energy Conservation Center, the country may run out of natural gas within the next decade. Without investment in domestic gas production, local enterprises will have to depend on global gas markets.
At the 4th Korea–ASEAN Conference on Natural Gas Vehicles recently held in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Hyoung Lull Jeon, Deputy Director of the Korean Ministry of Environment, emphasized that to develop a new fuel system, Vietnam must first establish a gas distribution network and secure stronger government support.
The South Korean government subsidizes 50% of LPG and CNG vehicle conversion costs through central and local budgets. Since 2000, the country has introduced nearly 20,000 LPG buses and 465 LPG-powered garbage trucks, supported by 261 LPG refueling stations nationwide.
(Source: Pháp Luật TP Hồ Chí Minh, November 9)
