Pakistan is set to become the largest user of compressed natural gas (CNG) in the world by June, 2006. At present, the growth of the country's CNG sector is very rapid and the sector has achieved a large infrastructure in a short span of time.
This was stated by Chairman of CNG Station Owners Association of Pakistan (CSOAP) while addressing a pre-event joint news conference here on Monday to elaborate 'Second International 'CNG CONEX-2005' conference and exhibition to be held in Lahore on September 21-22 this year.
Malik said that there are 800,000 vehicles, which have been converted to CNG and 750 filling station are operational, while about 200 new stations are in the pipeline to provide alternative and environment-friendly fuel to consumers.
During last financial year, the exchequer saved foreign exchange of $1.38 billion on account of refined petroleum products, he said, adding that lots of efforts are needed to save more money, "as we have planned to manufacture CNG equipment in the country" to avoid dependency on other nations.
Quoting the example of India, Malik said tat in the last two years, it had established its own manufacturing plant of CNG cylinders in India and in Dubai to capture international market as well as to meet country's growing demand.
He said that some Indian cities have become smoke-free through a Delhi High Court Order, which gave them a very short span of time to convert all commercial transport in to CNG including large buses.
He said tat they requested the CSOAP to help them in providing theoretical or practical expertise, "but we provided them theoretical assistance and they are growing at a very fast pace".
He said that prices of CNG cylinders have gone up due to increase in the prices of steel in international market and a large order for cylinders placed by South Korea.
The Korean government has planned to convert 7,000 commercial buses to CNG, he said, adding that each commercial bus needed to install 8 CNG cylinders and the 7,000 buses needed 56,000 cylinders for conversion to CNG.
Secondly, the Koreans have paid the amount of such shipments in advance that obviously imbalance the supply and demand chain as the association members usually import CNG cylinders through opening of L/Cs, "and the manufacturers have to wait for 15 days after sending the shipment to us," he added.
The increase has impacted the prices of cylinders in local market that shot up to Rs 17,000, which he thought was unfair for consumers to afford. He urged that members of CSOAP should charge nominal amount of profit on CNG cylinders.
Moreover, the Second International Conference and Exhibition on CNG products "Conex-2005" will be held with the objective to promote CNG as an alternative and environment-friendly fuel and promotion of locally manufactured CNG equipment in the country.
The conference will be inaugurated by Secretary Ministry of Petroleum, Ahmed Waqar while Federal Minister of State for Petroleum Naseer Mengal is expected to be chief guest at the concluding session.
The press briefing was addressed by Malik Khuda Baksh Chairman Organising Committee and M. Naeem Qureshi Chief Co-ordinator of CNG Conex and President National Forum for Environment & Health (NFEH).
Local as well as foreign representatives of CNG trade from Italy, New Zealand, Britain, China, Malaysia, Korea, India and Canada would attend the conference.
The Conference is being organised by CSOAP, NFEH and All Pakistan CNG Association while the Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP), Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources and Ministry of Environment are patronising the mega event, he added.
The theme of the conference is 'Production of CNG Equipment in Pakistan & Globally'. It is aimed to provide latest information to delegates about the infrastructural development and technical advancements made in the CNG sector world-wide (Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Canada & USA) and particularly in Asian countries including China, Iran, Bangladesh, India, Japan and Pakistan.
The Event Co-ordinator of NFEH, Sirajuddin, said that this event would help interaction and opportunity with the participants to share multiple expertise, industrial knowledge, understanding business environment, pricing & marketing strategies, training opportunities, implementation of safety procedures and transfer of latest technology possibilities for the betterment of CNG industry in the country.
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