July 19, 2012. Southeast Asia has become a dominant player in the global arena of NGV growth. With Thailand as it’s hub, the region is experiencing a period of rapid growth and development with unique demands and opportunities in the neighbouring emerging markets of Myanmar (Burma), Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. Asia-Pacific as a whole is growing at a rate of 38.7% compared to the industry average of 22.9%, according to the recent IANGV report.

   Embracing that demand is NGV Bangkok 2012 that this year welcomes the leading global suppliers of NGV technology to meet with the stakeholders of Thailand’s fast expanding market and the new key players from the region to include PetroVietnam, Vinashin, Saigon Gas Holdings Corporation, Pertamina and Myanmar Oil & Gas Enterprise.

   Firstly looking at the host for the event, Thailand has a natural gas supply of 3.400 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd), accounting for 82 percent of total versus a supply of just 20% of its crude oil consumption. This fuel balance has placed huge importance on energy security and the increased use and application of natural gas. Combined with the policies and drive towards environmental sustainability, NGV growth in Thailand has been a benchmark for the region.

   In particular, the transport sector Thailand has experienced tremendous growth in the use CNG and this has benefitted all sectors of the NGV value chain. Thailand’s expansion in NGV has surpassed that of many of its ASEAN neighbours and with Thailand reviving its long-term plan to become an energy hub, huge importance has been placed on biofuels and natural gas.

   The government has also backed a scheme to introduce NGV credit cards for the consumption of natural gas for vehicles in Thailand to further encourage the use of NGVs, this has been coupled with the energy price restructuring approved by the National Energy Policy Council, reported The Nation, which will see prices gradually floated. This will benefit PTT and encourage the company to extend gas pipelines and boost the number of NGV stations to ensure sufficient supply for customers.

   Deputy Transport Minister Chatt Kuldiloke earlier announced the procurement of 4.000 NGV buses to further boost the drive towards natural gas vehicle consumption.

   In the private sector this month, Toyota Motor Thailand has added a new variant to the market leading Hilux Vigo Champ range, a bi-fuel version of the pick-up truck that can run on either petrol or CNG (compressed natural gas). This Hilux conversion is factory fitted and official warranties apply. The Hilux is the second Toyota model that gets a factory CNG conversion in Thailand, after the Corolla, and is available through its 340 showrooms nationwide.

   Meanwhile in the region new information is now starting to emerge from Myanmar (Burma), the official data for NGV has yet to be verified, however regardless of this, opportunities are abound and even based upon previous available data Myanmar enjoys a leading position in the global NGV market ahead of Chile, Turkey, Canada and Mexico.

   Elsewhere, Vietnam is now starting its next stage of NGV development, most recently Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is preparing to manufacture 300 buses running on compressed natural gas (CNG) to replace the diesel-fuelled buses which have now been degraded. Pham Quoc Tai, deputy general director of Saigon Transportation Mechanical Corporation (Samco), said the corporation had been entrusted to research and manufacture such vehicles.

   HCMC now has 28 CNG buses running on four routes, and all these buses have been imported as finished products with a high price of over US$ 115.000 per unit. The city has targeted to operate 350 CNG buses by 2015.

   For more information on NGV Bangkok 2012 and the opportunities in the region visit www.ngvbangkok.com or e-mail ngv@aesexhibitions.com