India to have 10,000 CNG stations by 2030
The giant Asian country has identified compressed natural gas a suitable alternative fuel due to its national availability and environmental benefits.
India, the second most populated country in the world, has set a new focus on CNG as a viable alternative fuel for today and the future. Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said that by 2030 some 10,000 CNG station will be open in India.
With most of the focus of the 58th Annual SIAM Convention set on electric vehicles, Pradhan surprised visitors by announcing such an ambitious program for compressed natural gas. Currently, India has some 1,500 CNG fuelling sites catering for 3 million vehicles, many of them small, three-wheel cars also known as tuk-tuks.
Around 82% of CNG vehicles are used in Delhi, Gujarat and Maharashtra, reports Good Returns.
The Minister added that if the number of stations grew as expected the total number of CNG vehicles should ramp up to around 17 million.
Another positive argument for India’s bet on CNG is becoming more self-sufficient and less dependent on oil imports.
