Colombia: strategic alliance will boost NGV adoption in Bogota fleets
Transportadora de Gas Internacional (TGI), Ecopetrol and Gas Natural Fenosa have signed an agreement with the purpose of encouraging the use of natural gas in mass transport vehicles of Bogota and other CNG dedicated vehicles. Each of the companies will give an economic contribution, which will be administered by a trust, while the end user will receive a discount or bonus on the total cost of the conversion, or the purchase of a dedicated vehicle, which will facilitate the decision to convert or purchase the vehicle.
Today Bogota’s mass transportation system has four vehicles dedicated to natural gas. For the tender of new operators of the system that is under way in the city, the potential is up to 1,200 vehicles.
This agreement, in addition to contributing to the strengthening of the transport fleet, will benefit the city for its positive impact on the environment and sustainability. It is an effort of the companies that are part of the natural gas production chain, which seeks to strengthen the NGV market and thereby contribute to the mobility costs of citizens, as well as the reduction of pollutant emissions to the atmosphere and greenhouse effect gases.
The use of dedicated CNG buses in a mass transit system represents savings of between 458 (USD 25 million) and 700 million (USD 38 million) pesos per vehicle, compared to the purchase, maintenance and operation of those using traditional fuels, which means important benefits for the end users of the system.
In addition to the aforementioned support, TGI, Ecopetrol and Gas Natural Fenosa will provide permanent advice and support, in the midst of a regulatory environment that facilitates the viability of these initiatives, as well as institutional capacity and the level of dynamic infrastructure in the energy sector.