Gazprom Gas-Engine Fuel to open 16 CNG filling stations in Leningrad Region by end of 2020 - governor
KINGISEPP, Leningrad Region. July 22 (Interfax) - Gazprom Gas-Engine Fuel LLC plans to open 16 compressed natural gas filling stations in Leningrad Region by the end of 2020, Governor Alexander Drozdenko told reporters on Friday at the official opening of a CNG station in Kingisepp.
"We're at the beginning of a long road. The most important thing is that implementation has begun. In addition to this station, there are now another eight stations under construction. In all, we expect that 16 stations will be built by the end of next year," Drozdenko said.
He said it is particularly important to convert transport in large and small cities to natural gas fuel, particularly large vehicles such as garbage trucks, road machinery, utility vehicles and large buses.
"Of course, we can't forget about safety, but we need to understand that all this benefits the economy" and means savings for both businesses that convert vehicles to CNG and the government budget, Drozdenko said.
Gazprom deputy CEO Vitaly Markelov said the cost of building one CNG station ranges from 100 million to 200 million rubles.
"Next year we plan to reach gas sales [for automobile fuel] in the neighborhood of 1 billion cubic meters. This year we're planning around 930 million cubic meters," Markelov said.
He said many regions are interested in working with Gazprom on construction of CNG stations, and acquiring buses and utility vehicles that run on natural gas.
"We are now working out details with Rostov and Belgorod regions," Markelov said.