SOCAR CNG network
Socar Turkey Petrol Enerji Dağıtım A. Ş., part of Azerbaijan’s national oil company Socar, has created a ‘blue line’ network of eight Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) filling stations across Turkey, stretching along a 1500 km route from Izmir in Turkey’s southwest up to Istanbul, across to Ankara then heading southeast down to Mersin. The stations are staged about 200-250 km apart.
The new corridor provides an extension to the Europe-wide CNG refueling network, enabling vehicle operators to take advantage of the cheaper cleaner fuel.
Up until now, CNG use has been limited to cities and has been utilised primarily by public transportation companies and municipal fleets.
Starting with a CNG station in Gebze on the western outskirts of Istanbul, the network has grown to 8 over two years and Socar plans further stations this year, focusing on major population centres.
Turkey Natural Gas Fuel Developments
- In January this year, Bolu municipality in Turkey’s north became the first in the country to adopt CNG refuse trucks, resulting in environment-friendly waste collection service.
- In July 2014, Terberg Benschop BV, international manufacturer of terminal, land and RoRo tractors based in Benschop, the Netherlands, was contracted to supply 40 Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) -powered tractors to Asyaport, the first transhipment container hub port of Turkey.
- Turkish bus manufacturer TEMSA recently delivered its first 12-meter Avenue CNG buses to Istanbul Otobüs A.Ş. in April 2014.
- Also in April 2014, Konya, the largest city in Turkey in terms of surface area, began providing public transportation using 60 Allison-equipped TCV Karat CNG buses.
- In March 2014, domestically-owned bus manufacturer TCV delivered 12-meter Karat CNG buses to Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality.
