OREANDA-NEWS. January 17, 2013. The Gazprom Group opened the first multi-fuel automotive fueling complex of the Gazpromneft network of gas stations on Pulkovskoye Shosse in Saint Petersburg, where in addition to gasoline, diesel fuel, and the already familiar liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG) is also sold.

The main advantages of natural gas vehicle fuel are its low environmental impact and economy. The exhaust of an automobile running on CNG contains one fifth to one quarter of the harmful substances contained in the exhaust of an automobile with a gasoline engine. Gas does not form deposits in the fuel system, and therefore the operating life of an engine fueled with CNG is 50 percent longer. When using CNG, the expenses saved on fuel reach 40 percent.

The Gazpromneft network of gas stations plans to develop its sales of natural gas vehicle fuel. At present, the number of Gazpromneft gas stations with a LPG or CNG module has reached 89. The company plans to increase further the number of multi-fuel stations, as well as expanding LPG sales volumes by three times by 2020. The prospects for developing a CNG market are connected with incentivizing the conversion of public transportation and commercial vehicles to this type of fuel.

In Saint Petersburg and the surrounding area, the company is preparing to commission new multi-fuel automotive fueling complexes in the place of former gas stations and CNG fueling stations in Sestroretsk, Tosno, and Tikhvin. The company's long-term plans include the construction of six multi-fuel automotive fueling complexes on the M-10 highway between Saint Petersburg and Moscow.

"By developing the CNG market and incentivizing growth of the number of natural gas vehicles, we are at the same time caring for the environment and the city, as well as the country as a whole. You see, CNG is one of the most environmentally friendly types of fuel. Its advantages are already obvious today, and are understood by many government and commercial organizations that actively operate motor vehicles running on natural gas," noted JSC Gazprom Chairman of the Management Committee Alexey Miller.