19 October 2014 - 15:42
  • News ID: 227080
Iran CNG Achivements in Need of Marketing: Expert

A chief executive with the Asia Pacific Natural Gas Vehicles Association believes that Iran's CNG industry is growing, saying that the country needs to think out plans for better marketing of its achievements in the industry.

Lee Giok Seng is the executive director of the ANGVA. He has recently talked with Shana speaking about the whereabouts of the CNG industry in Iran and the world. 

What follows is his interview in verbatim.  

 
Q: Mr. Lee, you have visited Iran to attend a number of CNG-related conferences and exhibitions. As a person previously involved in the industry, how do you evaluate Iran's CNG industry? 
​A: My first personal contact with the CNG industry in Iran was during my first trip to Iran to attend the 1st CNG and Related Industries Conference & Exhibition in August 2008 in Tehran. After that I went to Tehran in 2009, 2010 and 2011. My last trip to Iran was in July 2011 attending the 4th International Conference & Exhibition on CNG. This is more than 3 years ago hence I might not have the right feel of the current CNG industry in Iran to give a good evaluation. Anyway, I think the CNG industry in Iran is growing in the right direction and facing the same challenges that many other countries are facing, and are still looking for the best solutions to address. Challenges such as pricing, infrastructure / refueling station development, and safety are the main challenges that I think many countries including Iran are still finding the best ways to address. 
 
Q: Has the industry in Iran seen a remarkable development in recent years? 

A: From what I gathered from reports in the internet and conferences, it seemed Iran now has the world largest population of natural gas vehicles and the number of natural gas vehicles and refueling stations are continuing to grow. There also already existed related CNG components and equipment manufacturers producing OEM natural gas vehicles, CNG cylinders, CNG valves and fittings. etc,. However these components are mainly for local supplies and consumption and are not well-known outside of Iran. The achievement of Iran in developing its market and industry development is not well-known outside of the country.


Q: Has the gas industry and, specially, CNG industry, been able to achieve the clean air and green energy goals?

A: I think this is one area that the CNG industry has yet to achieve - to show beyond doubts that the CNG industry helps to clean up dirty air and can meet the green energy goals. Even though natural gas vehicles are cleaner than gasoline, diesel and LPG vehicles, not many success stories from the field had been reported or published with regard to how it had help to achieve clean air and green energy goals. Many doubted that the aftermarket conversion of vehicles to CNG really helps to clean up the air and many pointed out that CNG is still a fossil fuel.  


Q: Is gas really a green energy?

A: This is a difficult question to answer as it depends on what it means by green energy. Natural gas is acknowledged as a clean fuel compared to coal, oil (gasoline. diesel, fuel oil, etc) and LPG, but it is still a fossil fuel. Thus, can we consider natural gas, a fossil, a green energy? However, if we continue to indiscriminately burn coal and oil, instead of shifting to natural gas, the world will not be a nice place to live sooner than the time when we can run everything on true green energy. Can we considered electric or hydrogen vehicles running on true green energy as compared to fossil natural gas vehicles? Not if the electricity are produced from coals or natural gas; and hydrogen produced from electrolysis using electricity from coal and natural gas or hydrogen being produced from natural gas. Can we consider vehicles running on bio-fuels from plants, grass, vegetable oils, etc, running on true green energy as compared to fossil natural gas vehicles? We can debate on this issue for a long time and meanwhile the earth is suffering from air pollution from vehicles burning oil. Natural gas vehicles is currently the only commercially viable and available clean fuel for vehicles.        

Actually natural gas vehicles can now use green natural gas that are produced from upgrading of biogas - known as Biomethane or Renewable Natural Gas.  There are already vehicles in Europe, North America, Korea, and Thailand using Biomethane / Renewable natural gas as fuel.
 
Q: How do you see Iran's private and public sector interactions with other companies, NGOs and countries for developing gas and mainly CNG Industry?

A: As I said, not many people outside of Iran are aware of the CNG industry in Iran. Not many are aware that there are over 3.5 millions natural gas vehicles in Iran and there already existed factory production of natural gas vehicles, CNG cylinders, valves, etc., in Iran. I guess it is up to the CNG players in Iran to introduce and promote their CNG expertise, products and services to the world. 

 
Q: How much NGOs like ANGVA can be helpful for the development of Iran's CNG industry?

A: ANGVA is a non-profitable trade industry association. Our vision is 'To lead and promote Asia Pacific NGV Industry towards sustainable growth'. We assist in the development and promotion of natural gas as a clean and sustainable fuel for the transport sector in the Asia Pacific region which includes Iran. We are keen to assist any countries in our region of operation in matters related to NGV. I am happy to note that Iran has been active in ANGVA at the board member level. Currently we have a board member from Iran i.e. Mr. Amir Khaki from Tamkar Gas Equipment Company. Recently we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Arian Jahan Energy Company (a subsidiary of Tamkar Gas Equipment Company) for the joint establishment of the Pardis-ANGVA Learning Centre in Tehran, Iran. This Pardis-ANGVA Learning Centre will undertake to provide training on NGV in Iran.

News ID 227080

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