The number of compressed natural gas (CNG) stations has reached 2,380, an official in charge of constructing CNG stations at the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company said.
“Since the beginning of the previous fiscal (March 2016), 61 CNG stations have been built, bringing the total number of stations to 2,380,” Ali Mehrabi was quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency on Monday.
Mehrabi said the CNG stations can supply over 2.74 million cubic meters of gas per hour and if the stations work 14 hours a day, daily supply capacity would be around 40 mcm.
“Average domestic demand for CNG stands is at 21 mcm/d … We can easily supply 30 mcm/d at the pumps on demand.”
According to Amir Vakilzadeh, the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company director for CNG stations, in the past 12 years, CNG consumption in the country increased 53-fold.
CNG is projected to comprise up to 35% of Iran's total fuel consumption by the end of the sixth five-year economic development plan (2017-22).
The government has pushed ahead with plans to promote CNG as a clean alternative to other fuels. Natural gas vehicles produce 20% less harmful emissions than gasoline-powered cars.
