16 sites chosen in UAE to instal CNG stations

ABU DHABI — The Technical Committee announced it has chosen 16 sites for the installation of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations.

Silvia Radan

Published: Fri 6 Oct 2006, 9:53 PM

Last updated: Wed 15 Nov 2023, 10:07 AM

Nine of them are going to be in Abu Dhabi city and the surrounding areas, two in Al Ain, and five in Sharjah emirate.

Maha, at the intersection between Mina and Salam streets here, is the first petrol station to offer CNG.

Nine out of these 16 fuel stations will also offer installation workshops for conversion to CNG, and they are also going to be spread among the Abu Dhabi and Sharjah emirates — five in the capital, one in Al Ain, and three in Sharjah.

According to the Technical Committee, conversion to CNG will greatly improve the air quality, especially in urban areas. Chaired by the Environment Agency — Abu Dhabi (EAD), the committee consists of members from the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), Emirates Metrology and Standardisation Agency, the Civil Defence, Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters, the Federal Environment Agency, Mubadala Company, and the Public Transportation Department. Apart from the new 16 chosen sites, Adnoc is already looking to expand the project by installing CNG pumps in stations from other emirates.

Although new to the UAE, natural gas has been used as an alternative fuel for cars in western countries for a good few years. CNG’s main advantage is that it is nearly pollution-free. It is also lead-free, which means that it produces 90 per cent less carbon monoxide in exhaust emissions. Since it has a specific gravity of 0.587, CNG is lighter than air, so if it leaks, it will disperse into the upper atmosphere, reducing the risk of fire.

There are also financial benefits, since CNG is the most economical fuel source available in the market today. Giving all the environmental and economical benefits, the Government of Abu Dhabi is planning that by 2012 at least, 20 per cent of government-owned vehicles and taxis will be converted to CNG. According to the Technical Committee, the most polluting cars in the Abu Dhabi emirate are buses, taxis and official vehicles (like the ones owned by the police or municipality), since they are heavily used throughout the day.