India’s Petronet LNG eyes transport sector with 1,000 LNG filling stations
The company has the goal to supply around 4mn t/yr of LNG to heavy-duty vehicles, according to Petronet LNG Chief Executive Officer, Akshay Kumar Singh.
Indian state-controlled Petronet LNG, the country's biggest liquified natural gas (LNG) importer, is planning to build 1,000 LNG filling stations in the next 4-5 years as the company eyes the transport sector for growth, diversifying its customer base from fertilizers, power plants and city gas.
According to Petronet LNG Chief Executive Officer, Akshay Kumar Singh, the company has the goal to supply around 4mn t/yr of LNG to trucks, buses and other heavy vehicles refuelling at these proposed retail outlets.
Initially, Petronet had planned to install some 1,000 LNG filling station within the next couple of years, however, COVID-19 related disruptions and a reluctance among transporters to convert their fleet delayed the company’s plans. In a classic case of chick and egg problem, none of the 400,000 heavy-duty vehicles added to Indian roads every year use gas as fuel, reports Argus Media.
India plans to roll out as many as 3,000 LNG retail outlets, with transport fuel retailers such as state-controlled IOC, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum also intending to serve LNG at some of their retail outlets.
