Operators of compressed natural gas buses in Luzon, the largest island of the Philippines, have urged the Department of Energy (DOE) to reinvigorate the the Natural Gas Vehicle Program for Public Transport (NGVPPT), according to a balita-dot-ph report. The bus operators said they have drafted proposals on how the various issues could be addressed and how the program could be implemented.
The letter, addressed to Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras from bus operators belonging to TICOM Co. Inc., reminds the Department that the motivation behind NGVPPT, first promulgated by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2004, was enhanced energy security in the transport sector through fuel diversification using indigenous natural gas.
Based on the revised Philippine Energy Plan (2005-2014), the government had planned for200 CNG buses to operate along the Batangas-Manila route in 2006 expanding to 2,000 CNG buses on the road, supported by 10 CNG refueling stations by 2007.
It was originally intended that the initial 200 CNG buses would be fuelled by Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp (PSPC); however the fleet size has reached just 60 units, of which only 17 are reportedly fuelled by PSPC.
Although Shell and Chevron have apparently indicated intention to give up the CNG refuelling facility, with negotiations mooted to be finalized as early as November, the letter to Almendras requests DOE look for alternative CNG mother-daughter facilities. Diversification of gas suppliers is also sought. Exploratory talks have indicated that the Ilijian power plant has surplus gas supply sufficient to operate up to 2000 natural gas buses.
It is hoped DOE interest in reviving the NGVPPT program will stimulate investment in natural gas refuelling infrastructure and buses.
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