In 2013, the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Energy, through the Executing Agency for Natural Gas Vehicles Conversion (EEC-GNV), developed a pilot project to replace engines on public transport minibuses. Although the transition has been performed in 100 units, the plan includes 400 that are already involved in this major city.
The executive director of the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH), Gary Medrano, said the Santa Cruz’s fleet consists of 7,000 microbuses. “We have a policy of energy grid change from diesel to CNG, do not forget that diesel is expensive and is subsidized, plus it is highly polluting, unlike natural gas, which is the cleanest fuel and does not pollute the environment,” he said.
The ANH has implemented the Unified Information System for Natural Gas Vehicles (SUIC-GNV), which is connected with the Bolivian Self-Identification System Platform (B-SISA), in order to get information on CNG consumption in filling stations nationwide. Refueling points must charge the program beneficiaries in installments for the engine incorporated to their vehicles through their regular CNG consumption receipts as amortization.
The EEC-GNV passes the information to the B-SISA and this system relayed the message to the fueling locations so that the calculation of the CNG sale is made automatically. Medrano explained that the SUIC-GNV has been adopted by B-SISA in 81 CNG stations across Santa Cruz. He noted that beneficiaries are expected to pay off the cost of the new CNG engine in nearly two years.
Source: National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH).
