Omani company mulls auto LPG initiative

By Kaushalendra Singh — SALALAH: May 1 - Amid discussions over conventional energy and its alternative sources, National Gas Company has floated the idea of use of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) in automotive sector in Oman. There should not be problem in converting the idea into action as the technology is already available and more than 26 million vehicles are running on ‘Auto Gas’ globally, and Oman has enough LPG to support the initiative. This was stated by the senior officials of National Gas, a 100 per cent Omani company based in Muscat, during their recent visit to Salalah. [caption id='attachment_366154' width='227'] Sanjeev Sinha[/caption] In an interview with the Observer, Sanjeev Sinha, Chief Operating Officer of the company, sounded positive over the initial steps and discussions held with the authorities. Commenting on the company’s strength behind the idea, Sinha said: “Being the largest LPG supplier in Oman, National Gas is equipped with LPG gas bottling, logistics, industrial gas supply, onsite LPG plant design and installations.” “Moreover, we have three decades of experience, 12 bottling plants/terminals spread across Oman, the UAE and Malaysia. We are the largest LPG logistic infrastructure in Oman and the UAE with LPG sales of over 350,000 MT per annum.” The only challenge is to channelise the resources and convince the end users and policymakers that it is clean, cheap, and abundantly available fuel source. To make his point for auto gas, Sinha said: “Use of LPG in automotive sector is popularly known as Auto LPG worldwide. Auto LPG is much cleaner, cheaper, high octane and abundantly available fuel world-wide. Today Auto LPG is third largest fuel used in automotive sector worldwide after gasoline and diesel. There are more than 26 million vehicles running on auto gas globally, supported by close to 71,000 LPG filling stations. Global auto LPG consumption exceeds 26 million tonnes. More than 70 countries are using auto LPG in vehicles to help clean their urban air and clean environment.” Among the key nations that have successfully adopted this green fuel for their transportation requirements are South Korea, Turkey, Poland, Japan, Australia, Italy, Mexico, the USA, Russia, India and China. In terms of LPG refuelling infrastructure, there are over 6,000 LPG filling stations in Poland, over 5,000 in Turkey, about 3,000 each in Australia, Mexico and more than 2,000 stations each in nations like Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Holland and the US. Commenting on its advantages over conventional fuel like diesel and petrol, Sinha said: “Auto LPG has significant advantages. The first and foremost being the environment advantage as auto LPG has lesser greenhouse emissions than any other fossil fuel when measured through the total fuel cycle. Auto LPG helps improve air quality significantly and combats climate change. It has 22 per cent lower CO2 than petrol, 96 per cent less NOx than diesel, 68 per cent less NOx than petrol and 120 times less small particle emissions than diesel vehicles.” National Gas Company, according to Sinha, is in the process of engaging with the relevant authorities and is hopeful of receiving an in-principle approval so that concrete steps can be initiated for making auto LPG a possibility in Oman.