16 CNG stations to be installed around the UAE

This was announced during the most recent meeting of the Technical Committee responsible for implementing CNG as a cleaner alternative.

According to the Technical Committee, with this project underway, significant improvements in the UAE's air quality can be expected, particularly in the urban areas, if more of the community moves towards using cleaner alternatives such as CNG.

So far, 16 sites have been selected to install stations that would provide CNG to the public. Moreover, surveys have been conducted and maps have already been drawn out in preparation to lay the network to supply the CNG. 9 of these 16 stations will be in Abu Dhabi city and the surrounding areas, 2 in Al Ain, and 5 in the Emirate of Sharjah.

Nine of the 16 stations will house conversion to CNG and installation workshops. 5 out of these 9 will be in Abu Dhabi and its surrounding areas, 1 in Al Ain and 3 in Sharjah. Some of these stations will have the capacity to expand in size in the future and will incorporate the Conversion Workshops within the original design of the stations.

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), a member of the Technical Committee, is currently looking into installing stations in other emirates in the future.

During the meeting, the Committee reviewed the Cleaner Air by-laws which were approved by the Ministerial Council in May 2006. This by-law is considered a bylaw/Executive Order of Federal Law No. 24 for 1999 pertaining to Protection and Development of the UAE's Environment. The Committee ensured that their action plan was in line with the afore-mentioned law.

In addition, the Committee reviewed the activities of the upcoming GasTech Exhibition, which is being organized by ADNOC in December 2006.

The Technical Committee is chaired by the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi and consists of members from ADNOC Distribution, Emirates Metrology and Standardization Agency, the Civil Defense, the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters, Federal Environment Agency, Mubadala, the Public Transportation Department and

The Government of Abu Dhabi expects by 2012 that 20% of the Government-owned vehicle fleet and taxis will be converted to run on Natural Gas.

The most polluting vehicles in Abu Dhabi Emirate have been identified as buses, taxis, and government-owned cars (ie. municipality cars, police) as they are the most in use and roam the roads for the majority of the day.