UAE, Abu Dhabi
Natural gas vehicle numbers in Abu Dhabi will grow from 40 currently to more than 10,000 within the next 6 years following initiatives of government agencies and energy supplier Adnoc Distribution. A Technical Committee constituted under an Abu Dhabi Executive Council Decree early last year has recommended that 20% of the Emirate's most polluting vehicles be converted to compressed natural gas (CNG) by 2012.
Vehicles comprising the target group include government-owned vehicles, taxis, airport vehicles, buses and drivers' training vehicles, which are generally in use for the major part of the day. As spokesperson for Adnoc Distribution says the company estimates that the converted vehicles will amount to more than 10,000 buy the 2012 timeframe.
Adnoc currently owns the Abu Dhabi's only two CNG refuelling stations, established to support the 40 trial vehicle which have been operational since last year. A total of ten stations are currently planned. The Adnoc spokesperson says the company is in discussion with local OEM master dealers but expects that most of the activity in the next six years will be via aftermarket conversions, with most of these in the light vehicle sector initially.
Abu Dhabi has significant local supplies of natural gas with reserves estimated to supply demand for at least the next 150 years.
The policy is driven by air quality issues with the Technical Committee that made the recommendations chaired by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and consisting of members from Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Mubadala, General Police Headquarters, Civil Defence, Emirates Standardisation and Meteorological Authority and the Department of Municipalities and Agriculture.
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