During the past seven years, Asia showed a great progress in increasing NGV population. In this period, this region doubled its NGV fleet. Beside CNG as the “star”, LNG and hythane are also introduced in transport sector.

In fact, LNG demand in Asia is expected to grow by 7% in coming years according to Royal Dutch Shell executive, Peter de Wit. China and India will use blended CNG (HCNG), also well-known as hythane in India , to power vehicles.

China
Both CNG and LNG are used widely in China . In Beijing alone, 20,000 taxis, 30,000 buses, and 2,000 special purpose vehicles run on NG. Over the next three years, city leaders expect that these numbers will double. In Fujjian Province , buses and taxis will be converted to LNGVs. Thirty percent of fixed-line vehicles in Fujian will be powered by LNG.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has approved China ’s coal bed methane (CBM) development plan, in which production of 10 BCM methane by 2010 is anticipated. CBM will be also used to power NGVs.

Korea
The first inner city CNG refueling station in Korea was opened this year in Seoul City Hall . This is a big step for Korean NGV industry and a gate opener to NG LDVs apart from the current HDVs which dominate the market.

Russia
Started in 1930’s and commenced with large scale projects in 1980s, six country members of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) joined NGV programmes. The Asian countries of the states, Armenia and Russia , are among the biggest NGV countries in the world. The states aim to have 1M NGVs and 1,000 refuelling facilities by 2020.

For Russia alone, target was set to convert 50,400 more vehicles and to install 200 more refuelling facilities in 2007-2015.

Bangladesh
In 2002, the government put a limit on autorickshaw population in Dhaka to 13,000 in which by 2004 all autorickshaws were powered by CNG, replacing 40,000 two-stroke gasoline rickshaws that were phased out.

Regarding the current 80,000 NGVs -of which over 22,000 are LDVs- it is suspected that the NGV population in this nation is way greater than reported. The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) recently reported that there are 13,000 registered CNG autorickshaws. Nevertheless, survey claims that about 32,500 autorickshaws are currently in operation in the metropolitan area. Due to high demand, the authority plans to increase the number of this vehicle in the capital.

India
As one of the most important NGV nations in Asia and the world, India continues to lead the industry with R&D and increase vehicle and station population. Adding to the current local market, Pune city is going to have 29 CNG fuelling stations by end 2008. In Delhi , the Supreme Court has ordered all heavy and light commercial vehicles and public transport to solely run on CNG. The government offers corporate organizations and firms the possibility to claim 100% depreciation for CNG conversion kits as pollution equipment control.

Private sector involvement is strong. Maruti& Maruti plans to introduce CNG variant of Versa mini van. TVS Motors will launch CNG motorcycle. Fiat is considering offering bifuel Palio Stile and Grande Punto for local market. In the public sector, Metro Rail Corporation will soon incorporate 419 modern buses powered by CNG that meet Bharat III emission norm.

Pakistan
Rs 500 M government subsidy is provided to private sector to buy CNG buses in the current fiscal year. In Karachi alone, 8,000 “clean” CNG buses are planned to be introduced..

Due to strongly healthy environment in local car market, CNG car prices increase a lot. Those that benefit from this period and sold at more expensive price are Toyota Cuore Eco CNG, CNG family of Suzuki such as Mehran VXR , Alto VXR, Cultus VXR, etc.

Iran
Iran NGV industry was initiated by the government and its strong commitment is shown in incentives, mandates, and the establishment of national targets. CNG station and vehicle equipment is exempt from import duty, while tariff on imported NG vans, buses, and LDVs are reduced by 30%.

Gasoline consumption is limited to 30-100 litres/month while CNG consumption is no longer being rationed.

To increase NGV population, all car makers are obliged to solely produce NGVs, all old vehicles are to be phased out and replaced by NGVs, and 500,000 existing cars are going to be converted.

Egypt
About 100,000 NGVs are anticipated to ply on the roads by end 2007. The Ministry of Petroleum is preparing a CNG Master Plan for the next 20 years. Traffic authorities are also studying the ministry suggestion to enforce taxi drivers in tourism destinations and coasts to convert their cars to NGVs when renewing their license.

Singapore
Singapore will have its first public CNG refueling station by 2008. It is expected that 10,000 private and public vehicles will be converted to NGVs by 2011

Thailand
PTT Plc has indicated the possibility of local production of CNG cylinder type 2. Furthermore, conversions of 40 boats to NGVs are on the way, while 12 CNG cargo ships are going to be purchased in the future. Thailand will also widely incorporate LNG vehicles in its fleet.