List of Countries Already Using CNG, the Fuel Being Considered as a Replacement for 3 Kg LPG in Indonesia
Jakarta, VIVA – The government is currently examining the use of Compressed Natural Gas or CNG as an alternative replacement for 3-kilogram LPG cylinders for household use. This step is part of efforts to reduce dependence on energy imports while utilising the abundant domestic natural gas reserves.
The proposal to use CNG has garnered attention because several countries around the world have already been utilising this gas fuel on a large scale. Not only for industry, CNG is also used for public transportation up to daily energy needs because it is considered cheaper and more environmentally friendly compared to conventional fossil fuels.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia stated that the government is currently conducting trials for the development of small-sized CNG cylinders equivalent to 3 kilograms of LPG.
“For the 3-kilogram size, the cylinder is still in the trial stage because the pressure is quite high. In the next two to three months, we hope to have the results,” Bahlil said in Jakarta.
According to him, the main challenge in using CNG for households lies in the technical aspects. This is because the gas pressure in CNG is much higher than LPG, reaching around 200 to 250 bar.
Nevertheless, the government is open to a gradual conversion from LPG to CNG if the trial results are deemed suitable for public use. “Everything is still under review, including the possibility of subsidies and the volume size,” Bahlil said.
He added that CNG has several advantages because all its raw materials are available domestically. In addition, Indonesia also has substantial natural gas resources, which are considered capable of reducing dependence on LPG imports.
Economically, the government estimates that the price of CNG could be around 30 percent cheaper than LPG because distribution costs are lower and it does not rely on imports. In various countries, the use of CNG has developed quite rapidly. Gas fuel filling infrastructure continues to increase in line with the push for cleaner and more efficient energy use.
Here are some countries known for actively using and developing CNG:
- Germany
Germany is one of the countries with the largest CNG infrastructure in Europe. Based on data from NGVA Europe cited by LNG Industry, this country has around 186 CNG refuelling stations as of March 2024. The use of CNG in Germany is driven by energy transition policies and carbon emission reductions.