This initial stage will take place between 2011 and 2014 and will focus on building two CNG main stations connected to the existing natural gas pipeline as well as four to five sub stations. “In this phase we are trying to focus on the Dubai region because of the availability of gas and the infrastructure and we will be converting municipality’s taxis and Road and Transport Authority (RTA) fleets,” said Zaid Al Qufaidi, managing director of marketing of Enoc.
Phase two will boost the infrastructure to six stations connecting two pipelines and 19 CNG on line stations. With this, the aim is to spread awareness to the wider community. In 2011 the new filling stations will fuel cars, taxis, light commercial vehicles, SUVs and MPVs. By 2012, stations will also serve buses.
This year, Emirates Gas aims to distribute 11,945 cubic metres of compressed gas a day, enough to fill 400 vehicles. By 2014 the output will increase to over 192,000 cubic metres per day.
It is worth mentioning that Dubai’s government recently announced its plan to convert almost 500 municipal vehicles as part of this CNG project.