The 7th St. Petersburg International Gas Forum hosted the conference "World Experience of Natural Gas for Transport: Trends, Security, Sustainability". It was organized by NGV Italy and ExpoForum-International.
The event brought together experts and international professionals in the field of natural gas use for transport. At the centre stage of the event was the global experience shared by the leading gas-engine associations: NGV Europe and NGV Italy. The conference also featured specialists from China, the Republic of Belarus and Russia.
Andrea Gerini, Secretary General of NGVA Europe, spoke about the advantages of LNG: "Compressed and liquefied natural gas is the fuel of the future. Today, we must create the best possible conditions to spread the use of biofuels everywhere. Europe is very concerned about the environmental friendliness, sustainability of fuel and, at the same time, its cost-effectiveness. We conducted studies that have proven that natural gas is much more profitable and environmentally friendly than diesel fuel."
Vyacheslav Khakhalkin, Member of the Management Committee, Chief Engineer, Deputy Director General of Gazprom Gas-Engine Fuel, presented the results of the work done to introduce natural gas fuel, and described the prospects for the development of this industry.
"Previously, there was an opinion that gas fuel is only for poor countries that could not afford other more expensive fuel. Today, the trends have changed towards natural gas fuel: we ourselves changed the prioritization, giving the compressed and liquefied natural gas the name of "smart fuel" pointed out Mariarosa Baroni, President of NGV Italy and NGV International Academy.
In addition to the positive aspects of the fuel based on natural gas, participants discussed some of the negative aspects constantly mentioned by the opponents of this fuel. "Opponents of the fuel speak about harmful methane emissions into the atmosphere all the time. But natural gas fuel has the lowest possible methane concentration. Therefore, emissions are minimized, which is not the case with diesel fuel, summed up Mariarosa Baroni.
The Blue Corridor project also did not go unnoticed. Mariarosa Baroni explained that for the motorists to start using sustainable "blue" fuel, Siberia and Russia as a whole should become today's chief priority areas. Within the framework of the project, it is planned to install gas filling stations all along the "blue corridor" route and make the fuel as accessible and convenient as possible.