CNG mobility gains momentum in the Colombian Aburrá Valley
The president of the Colombian Natural Gas Association Orlando Cabrales Segovia signed the Memorandum of Understanding that seeks to promote the consumption of cleaner energy sources such as natural gas for mobility in the Aburrá Valley. “The Aburrá Valley continues taking steps to improve the air of its cities and add cleaner technologies to transport. This agreement is an example of the existing will to promote the increase of a cleaner NGV fleet and to help meet local environmental goals,” said Cabrales Segovia. The document was presented by Eugenio Prieto, director of the Metropolitan Area of the Aburrá Valley, and Carlos Díaz Romero, vice president of Gas of EPM (Empresas Públicas de Medellín), who highlighted that natural gas for vehicle use is available and tested nationally and internationally, and that it is one of the cheapest natural fuels with real benefits for air quality and the environment. The event also presented the new NGVs, including a truck owned by EPM, taxis, vans and other passenger transport vehicles. The three entities committed to exchange knowledge and experiences that contribute to improving sustainability; to explore new areas of mobility (light vehicles, passenger transport and freight vehicles), where natural gas can offer effective solutions; and to join efforts to promote the development of suppliers of CNG technologies, among other things. EPM has 17 CNG filling stations, located at strategic points in Antioquia, and four authorized conversion workshops. The company has joined forces with other entities to operate 63 waste collection vehicles of Emvarias, a subsidiary of the EPM Group, and 484 public transport vehicles. In addition, it is currently carrying out a pilot with two trucks with a dedicated 100% natural gas engine, with tests at the San Fernando wastewater treatment plant and at the Public Works Department of Medellín.
