Converting cars to run on natural gas is witnessing great demand, especially among residents of Colombia in South America. This came after the government’s decision to cancel gasoline subsidies in addition to providing tax exemptions for cars that run on gas. The largest association of gas producers and distributors, Natur Gas, has converted 23,300 vehicles to run on gas during the year 2023. Past an increase of two-thirds year on year.

The first leftist government in Colombia is working to support the use of natural gas with the aim of making it easier for vehicles to meet climate commitments by reducing carbon emissions by half by 2030. Luz Stella Mogas, president of the Naturgas association, stated that the transportation sector adds 125% of emissions in Colombia, and is considered a conversion. Gas-electric cars are the only way to have a rapid impact on emissions reductions.

The transportation sector accounts for 5% of all natural gas consumption in Colombia, which amounts to about one billion cubic feet per day, while Bogotá imports gas to generate electricity when the production of hydroelectric power plants declines during times of drought.

It is expected that the demand for natural gas and fuels derived from it will rise by 8% until 2030 as more citizens seek to use fuel alternatives at a lower cost than gasoline, and the number of vehicles converted to run on natural gas reached about 23 thousand during the year 2023, an increase of 63% compared to 2022. .

The number of large gas-powered cargo trucks increased by 12% in 2023, and 312 gas-powered trucks were sold across the country. Converting cars to run on gas can save 50% on monthly fuel expenses, which makes it a popular option among taxi drivers who pay… About a thousand dollars to convert their cars to run on natural gas, but they will achieve savings in the long run thanks to the conversion.

There are 7 million registered vehicles, including cars, buses, and trucks, including 130,000 vehicles that run on natural gas. It is expected that the pace of converting cars to run on gas will accelerate during the year 2024, and this will be the first year in Colombia without gasoline subsidies.

"Naturgas" expects that truck drivers will switch to gasoline in addition to removing subsidies on diesel, which trucks mainly use. The administration of President Gustavo Petro has developed a new strategy to gradually end the policy of gasoline subsidies, the price of which jumped in the retail market to $3.75 per gallon during the month of March, and rose Its price was $2.15 in August 2022, especially when the president took office.

The government has provided incentives to shipping companies with the aim of getting rid of their old gasoline-powered trucks. They can receive 90% of the value of those trucks from the government, and new vehicles that operate on natural gas are exempt from the 19% tax.

The “Naturgas Association” provides new low-interest loans to shipping companies that purchase natural gas-powered vehicles, given that the association has a major role in Colombia’s journey to reduce carbon emissions, and commercial gas production reached an average of 966 million cubic feet per day during the month of January 2024.

It is expected that gas production will decrease to less than 400 million cubic feet per day if the pace of drilling continues at its current levels, which will lead to importing gas from abroad, but if the scope of land and sea projects is expanded while exploiting proven reserves – as Colombia produces about 1.2 billion cubic feet cubic meters of gas by 2030 – it will eliminate the need to import gas from abroad.