World LP Gas body irked by Ogra’s stance

Association opposes regulator prioritising CNG over LPG.

ISLAMABAD: The World LP Gas Association (WLPGA) has expressed dismay over the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority’s stance (Ogra) on the use of LPG in automobile sector of the country.

With over 17 million vehicles running on LPG globally, it is the world’s third most popular transport fuel after gasoline and diesel, WLPGA said in a statement on Friday.

The WLPGA in its statement said it was worrisome to see the level of opposition as shown by a news item published in The Express Tribune on January 1, 2012 reporting opposition to LPG in preference to CNG in Pakistan. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) was quoted as strongly opposing LPG in favour of CNG, on the grounds of safety and economic viability.

“Let’s be very clear, both LPG and CNG have exceptional safety records when used as transport fuels – although CNG has to be stored under higher pressure, which creates additional challenges and increases the overall weight of the vehicle,” WLPGA said.

LPG Autogas is more portable than CNG, allowing LPG gas stations to be constructed where they are needed and not restricted to being over a natural gas network, says the statement. This enables consumers to refuel across the country, even when the natural gas grid does not follow the road network, adds the statement.

LPG refuelling station costs less than a CNG station which encourages investment in infrastructure.

The range of an LPG vehicle is much greater than a CNG vehicle because of the fact that – as LP Gas is easily stored as a liquid under lower pressures – the LPG fuel system on board the vehicle is simple and light weight. It is therefore puzzling to hear objections to LPG in Pakistan when it has such a good track record elsewhere in the world and is more popular than CNG as a transport fuel, adds the statement.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2012.