Local CNG Cylinders: Financial constraints stagnate initiative

Project by Ministry of Science to introduce locally made CNG cylinders is lying in doldrums due to lack of funds.

ISLAMABAD:

A project by the Ministry of Science to introduce locally made Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cylinders is lying in doldrums due to lack of funds. The project titled “Design and Manufacturing of Light Weight Composite Reinforced CNG Cylinders”, jointly funded by Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) and SUPARCO, was initiated at a cost of Rs4 million.

According to sources, the initiative will annually save Pakistan almost USD 100 million in foreign currency, the amount used to import 600,000 CNG tanks annually.

PSF Spokesperson Rehana Batool said that requisite cylinders have been developed, their burst test have been carried out and certification from an external agency is expected soon, however, the project has not yet launched due to shortage of funds. He explained that there are insufficient funds to initiate a large-scale advertisement campaign, which is essential to guarantee entry into the market.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2011.