Dourogas LCNG filling station at Carregado
Portugal’s Council of Ministers has published Decree/Law 60:2017, promulgated on June 8, that creates the policy environment to set in place a national framework for the implementation of alternative fuel networks across the country. linking with its European neighbours. This Decree-Law, which transposes Directive 2014/94/EU into the national legal order, reflects Portugal’s commitment to the objectives of the European Union in this area.
In Portugal, transport remains the main energy consumer sector, accounting for 36.3% of final energy consumption in 2014, with road transport accounting for 24% of national GHG emissions in 2015.
The Decree seeks to define the contents of the National Action Framework (QAN – Quadro de Ação Nacional), to be approved by resolution of the Council of Ministers including guidelines for the sizing of networks of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) supply points, and identification of legislation on the technical specifications to be complied with regarding the supply of natural gas for transport.
Article 5 of the Decree refers to the establishment of supply of natural gas for transport:
- The QAN establishes the objective of installing, until 31 December 2025, an adequate number of LNG supply points in seaports, in order to allow the circulation of LNG-powered inland waterways or sea vessels throughout the TEN-T base network.
- In the QAN are designated the seaports that must give access to the LNG supply points referred to in the previous number, taking into account the real necessities of the market.
- The QAN should contain the following objectives:
- Install, until 31 December 2025, an adequate number of LNG supply points accessible to the public, at least along the existing TEN-T network, to ensure the movement of LNG, provided there is demand and costs are not disproportionate to the benefits, in particular environmental benefits;
- Make available an appropriate LNG distribution network, including loading facilities for LNG tank vehicles, in order to supply the supply points referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 4;
- Install, by 31 December 2020, an adequate number of publicly available CNG fueling points to ensure that CNG powered motor vehicles can circulate in urban / suburban agglomerations and other densely populated areas;
- Install, until 31 December 2025, an adequate number of publicly available CNG fueling points, at least along the TEN-T network from the existing base, to ensure that CNG powered motor vehicles can circulate throughout the European Union.
- The CNG supply points for motor vehicles, deployed or renewed as of November 18, 2017, must comply with the technical specifications established in Ordinance no. 1270/2001, of November 8.
In addition, Article 6.5, states that where appropriate, and in particular with regard to natural gas, the prices of fuels discharged at service stations shall contain information enabling them to be compared with the unit prices of the various fuels.
(Source: Diário da República Eletrónico)
Related articles:
EC Calls for Policy Action to Push Alt-Fuel Solutions for Transport
TEN-T Funding Supports LNG for Transport Policy Development in Portugal
