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Published on February 13, 2008

"We hope this will boost supply by 1,000 tonnes a day by late this year, from 3,200 tonnes at present," Nuttachart Charuchinda, executive vice president for NGV, said yesterday.

Under the terms of reference now being drafted, the new investors will put up Bt100 million per station in return for a guaranteed minimum monthly sales volume, he said.

Some 3,000 minibuses will convert to NGV this year but PTT's capacity can serve only 3,800 vehicles.

PTT will also soon discuss with the Energy Conservation Fund about Bt2 billion in soft loans for bus operators to modify their engines for NGV. PTT was granted Bt2 billion, but due to high demand the fund is running out. To serve big vehicles in particular, PTT will spend Bt280 million to open 14 gas stations.

As NGV is also becoming more popular among cabs and private cars, PTT is cooperating with taxi radio centres to ensure no shortages at filling stations and has suspended the campaign to promote the conversion of private car engines to NGV.

About 61,000 vehicles are already running on NGV, of which 17,500 are taxis and the rest are trucks and other vehicles. Every month, they will be joined by 500 new taxis adapted to run on NGV and 850 old taxis converted from liquefied petroleum gas to NGV.

The Nation