Japan, Tokyo

The Japan Gas Association is supporting the diffusion of environment-friendly natural gas vehicles. In Japan, natural gas vehicles started to penetrate the market in the second half of the 1980s. Since then, the number of natural gas vehicles in Japan has increased steadily, reaching 10,000 by the end of November 2001 and 20,000 by the end of March 2004. By the end of December 2006, the number of natural gas vehicles in Japan exceeded 30,000 with that number since growing to 31.462 vehicles and 324 refueling stations operational.

The following is an edited and updated summary of a presentation at NGV 2006 by Mr Kwangchill Park, Deputy Director, NGV Supply, Environmental Transportation Policy Division, Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea. (Presentations from NGV 2006 are also available for sale on the IANGV website).

This is the second of a two part report on Thailand. Part one can be viewed here.


Growing Energy Networks Throughout Asia

PTT’s carefully managed expansion program has seen Bangkok’s CNG refuelling network grow from just 1 station in 2001 to more than 100 at the beginning of 2007, exceeding initial projections by more than 30%. By 2011, this number is expected to increase to more than 300 stations.

CNG tuk-tuks added a unique Thailand flavor to the exhibition at ANGVA 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. NGV Industry growth in the past 2 years is expected to result in a doubling of exhibition space for ANGVA 2007 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Beginning with a number of technological trials in Thailand in the 1980s and 1990s that met with limited success, a number of convergent factors since the turn of the century have led to the establishment of NGV programs on a significant commercial scale. These factors include:

Based on the 121st article of the third national program of economical, social and cultural development of the country, the Iranian Fuel Conservation Organization (IFCO), a subsidiary of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), was established in 2000, aiming to manage the fuel consumption in different sectors through the review and survey of consumption trends and executing conservation projects nationwide.

Commencing with this issue of NGV Global, country reports will now be published in our new ‘Country Reports’ section on www.iangv.org Submissions for this section are welcome at any time.

Egypt is considered the leading country in the NGV industry in middle east and Africa as it is ranked one of the first ten countries in the number of converted cars all around the world. There are 65,432 cars converted on the road now with 99 fueling stations and 22 conversion stations. Nine refueling station currently under construction and monthly gas sales average: 22.290 million m3, there are six companies working in this industry.

- 800 CNG refueling stations
- 300 more expected within 6 months
- Almost 900,000 natural gas vehicles (NGVs)
- CNG fuel price a major benefit

- More than 25,000 NGVs
- 289 refuelling stations
- 686 vehicle refuelling appliances
- Energy security and greenhouse gas policies playing increasing role

Part 2. Part 1 of this item can be viewed here.

- Ukraine, Russian and Armenian NGV markets expanding
- CNG price drives CIS markets
- 1,000,000 vehicles, 1,000 fueling stations target for 2020