At the Gorky Automobile Plant “GAZ Group”, which is part of one of Russia’s largest diversified industrial group “Basic Element”, a sectoral meeting on NGV market development was held.
On the site of the Nizhny Novgorod “GAZ Group” there was a meeting on the development of the NGV market and the necessary mechanisms of state support aimed at promoting NGV equipment market. Meeting was held by the plenipotentiary representative of the Russian President in Volga Federal District Mikhail Babich, and Chairman of the Board of PJSC “Gazprom” Alexey Miller. The event was attended by Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Alexander Morozov, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation Kirill Molodtsov, heads of regions of the Volga Federal District, Russia’s largest producers and consumers of gas engine technology, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the company “Russian Machines” Siegfried Wolf, CEO of “Russian machines’ Manfred Eibeck, president of “GAZ Group” Vadim Sorokin.
At meeting the measures aimed at stimulating the expansion of NGV fleet in Russia were discussed. The meeting participants noted that the problem of transition by 2020 the half the municipal vehicles and municipal vehicles to CNG in the cities should be executed, in spite of the difficult economic situation in the country. For the further development of the market necessary to expand NGV fleet for 15-20 thousand vehicles per year, increasing its availability to consumers and refueling infrastructure to serve NGV equipment.
During the event, the guests got acquainted with the latest developments of “GAZ Group NGV” – trucks, buses and light commercial vehicles of NEXT generation, and also visited the production site of the Gorky Automobile Plant, which is the only enterprise in Russia for the production of light commercial vehicles on methane.
Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Board of PJSC “Gazprom”:
– For Russia, with its biggest reserves of natural gas, NGV fuel market development is a strategic task. Natural gas as a motor fuel is eco-friendly, economical and safe. Therefore, the NGV industry in our country has a great potential. This is a comprehensive work, the success of which depends on the smooth interaction of all participants of the market, “Gazprom”, car manufacturers and government bodies.
Alexander Morozov, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation:
– In 2016, we plan to complete the main stages of preparation for NGV. Also, our industry has mastered the production of LPG fourth grade equipment. Now in its final stage of preparation is the program to stimulate the demand for manufactured in the RF equipment for gas stations.
Vadim Sorokin, president of “GAZ Group”:
– “GAZ Group” is ready to provide any car out of the product range with the gas motor engine – commercial vehicles, buses and heavy trucks. More than $ 550 million invested in creating a line of Yaroslavl engines, including those working on compressed natural gas. It is necessary to solve the problem by synchronizing traffic infrastructure and increasing vehicle fleet on natural gas in the first place, bus and public transport. Our proposal – requires a comprehensive three-year subsidy program to update NGV fleet. It is necessary to index the amount of subsidies, to expand the range of techniques involved in the programs.