Gazprom plan to widen CNG use in Russia and beyond

Gazprom believes that the vehicle refuelling business sector is strategically important for the company. In the domestic market this activity is carried out by building up the Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) infrastructure (primarily, constructing new CNG filling stations) and by contributing to the increase in the amount of NGV equipment.

Currently funds are being spent on design, survey operations and purchasing the equipment for constructing 41 filling stations. In addition, Gazprom is implementing a reconstruction schedule for operating CNG filling stations by 2020. Work is currently underway on installing compressed natural gas (CNG) modules at the existing filling stations belonging to Gazprom Neft, Gazprom Gazenergoset, LUKOIL and Tatneft.

By late 2017, Gazprom plans to complete pilot projects for CNG filling stations construction in ten regions for amplifying the NGV use. These regions were chosen after the analysis of NGV fuel demand in 41 Russian areas.

Gazprom is actively converting its own vehicle fleet to natural gas. The program will last from 2014 to 2017. Currently, 14.5 percent of the group's transportation units run on natural gas whereas by early 2018 this figure will be increased to 50 percent. The company is also looking at the options of developing the NGV business abroad.

At present, the Russian NGV fleet consists of some 105,000 units. Over 3,000 NGV-fired cars are projected to be sold in Russia in 2014, six times more than in 2012.