Uttam Group of Companies, in partnership with Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL), has launched ‘Ashvath’, an integrated CNG refueling unit. This is the first of its kind mobile compact filling station mounted on a moving truck, which can be parked in designated areas allowing CNG access to fleets virtually anywhere. The unit, whose all components have been approved by Petroleum & Explosive Safety Organization (PESO) of India, was virtually unveiled by the Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel, Dharmendra Pradhan.
The need for development of such a system has arisen because of Indian government’s thrust to increase the quantum of gaseous fuel in the country’s energy market from the current 6.5% to 15%. The government has been asking the industry to develop systems that can create easy availability of CNG and allow for faster expansion of the CNG footprint with lowest capital expenditure, and Ashvath is an answer to that.
The Ashvath mobile refueller combines all the elements provided in the fixed CNG station into a compact unit that can be mounted on a standard LCV, MCV or HCV vehicle depending on the dispensing requirement. The unit will be operational in Mumbai, in partnership with MGL and other city gas distribution companies, and will then follow a phase-wise expansion, across the country.
“This product will eliminate the challenges of infrastructure development in urban & rural India to provide fuel to the common man. This unit will be a game changer for the energy industry. There are over 70,000 petrol pumps in India out of which hardly 3,000 pumps account for CNG stations, majority of which are in cities like Delhi & Mumbai. The Govt. is mandated to scale this number to 20 times. With the launch of this product we can consider to equip & convert at least 50% standalone petrol pumps to all fuel stations without disturbing the infrastructure,” said Karan Bhatia, CEO, Uttam Group of Companies.
“Economic viability is the key feature of the product, setting up a new fuel station has a lot of challenges, it requires capital investment, then the availability of land at the right place is also a challenge but this unit can mitigate all these factors at a fraction of the cost. With high CNG carrying capacity, it can fill up to 300 – 400 vehicles in one fill which definitely is revolutionary,” he added.
“It is a great pleasure to inaugurate the mobile refueling unit, as I see it a huge step towards India’s Natural Gas development with Innovative solutions. Our aim is to give easy accessibility and make it affordable to the consumers by providing services at various locations,” commented Minister Pradhan.
Source: Uttam Group
