The event was organized by NGV Italy, the partner of SPIGF.

Year after year, the carte-de-visite of the St. Petersburg International Gas Forum has been the ceremonial finish of the major international rally BLUE CORRIDOR – GAS INTO ENGINES. The rally is arranged by Gazprom (Russia) and Uniper SE (Germany).

The Croatian stage of Blue Corridor was followed by an online round table event in Roma, Italy, on 12 November. More than 50 participants took part in the vivid discussion conducted by Mariarosa Baroni, President and CEO of NGV Italy, the Italian Consortium of the CNG industrial chain. The Italian leadership for the development of natural gas for transport — in collaboration with the large gas producing countries, Russia in the first place — constitutes a strategic basis for the energy evolution process capable of moving towards a carbon neutral economy, in concert with other renewable energy sources.

More than 50 participants took part in the vivid discussion

Sergey Colin, Adviser to CEO of Gazprom Gas Engine Fuel shared with the participants some aspects of how Russian NGV market performs. For the last years it has been showing some very impressive growth results. In the period of 2014–2019, over 20 thousand cars have been retrofitted for the use of CNG in the official services partnered up with Gazprom marketing programs.

Thomas Hilse, Brand President of Iveco spoke about the LNG technology, introduced by the company for the long-haul trucks. While now 3 per cent of Europe’s long-haul trucks fleet is fueled by LNG, this share can easily reach 10 per cent. The international LNG transport corridors are yet to be built across Europe, in particular to Russia and to Turkey. The practical steps towards this are being made: Iveco aims to open LNG stations in Poland soon. Another trend in the long-haul mobility is a gradual switch from LNG to bio-LNG. The first Bio-LNG truck has recently been presented by Iveco in Italy’s Rimini.

Sebastian Groeblinghoff of Liqvis, a subsidiary of Uniper SE, recalled the company’s unique experience in the operation of mobile LNG stations. Until 2023, up to 30 LNG fueling stations will be opened in Germany and France. Investing in the LNG in the long-haul vehicles pays off as it is broadly supported by the European regulation. In particular, Brussels has lifted up the road tax for the LNG trucks.

Iveco aims to open LNG stations in Poland soon

Giovanni Perrella of Italian Ministry of Economic Development paid special attention to the role of methane and bio-methane in Italy’s Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan. This correlates with a rapid progress in LNG sector development, as there are now about 300 LNG-trucks and around 90 LNG fueling stations in the country.

The participants have expressed hope that the next year’s Blue Corridor rally comes back again to its offline format and they meet each other in person again on the ceremonial finish of the Rally in St. Petersburg.

To watch an overview of the Rally’s history in English please follow the link.