Confidence in C.N.G.

Press, 21 December 1981, Page 25

Confidence in C.N.G.

PA Wellington Representatives of the compressed natural gas equipment suppliers and the Government have reiterated their confidence in the future of C;N.G., after a meeting at Parliament Buildings with the Minister of Energy (Mr Birch). Spokesmen for the suppliers and the Government confirmed their belief that the target of 15u,000 vehicles converted to C.N.G. by the end of 1985 would be achieved or bettered. Mr Birch said that it had been agreed that the present incentives to motorists to convert to C.N.G. enjoyed a substantial price advantage over petrol, and the Government had given and repeated its assurance that this advantage would be at least main-

tained. “There are substantial financial advantages to the motorist in converting to C.N.G. if an annual mileage of 10,000 to 12,000 kilometres is achieved,” Mr Birch said. Both the Ministry of Energy and the equipment supplies intend to put increased resources into C.N.G. promotion in 1982, and will direct their efforts particularly towards identifying the

high-mileage vehicles, whose users can gain the greatest benefits from C.N.G. Both have agreed to meet regularly in an endeavour to coordinate efforts to develop the C.N.G. industry. Mr Birch said that those at the meeting expressed satisfaction that within the next three months the number of C.N.G. stations open to the public would reach a total of 100.