Caltex opens CNG outlets

Press, 25 August 1981, Page 18

Caltex opens CNG outlets

Caltex Oil (N.Z.); Ltd. has announced that 11 new compressed natural gas (CNG) outlets, linked with existing petrol stations, will soon be opened in Auckland, Hamilton. and Wellington. They are the first outlets named by Caltex as part of its national chain of about 50 CNG refuelling stations, the company said. Site work had commenced at the 11 outlets, . five of which would be situated in Auckland, five in Wellington, and one in Hamilton.

These were key centres for the provision of additional CNG facilities. The opening ..of the 11 new outlets by Caltex was indicative of the increasing momentum of the CNG programme in these regions, it said. City councils, public utilities, and other authorities in these areas had already con-

verted large numners of their petrol driven vehicles to run on CNG. Many businesses. as well as private motorists, were also switching to CNG, the company said.

Caltex's managing director for New Zealand (Mr W. C. Dunning) said it was only seven months since Caltex had advised the Government of its proposal involving an initial investment of S23M to establish a major chain of CNG outlets linked with existing petrol stations at key locations in the North Island.

"The opening of the first 11 outlets in the next few months is the first link in a chain that will play a.significant role in assisting to achieve the national energy programme goal of converting 150,000 vehicles to CNG use by the end of 1985.”