August 31, 2023. The Minister of Transport of Chile, Juan Carlos Muñoz, traveled to Punta Arenas to launch the new decree of that portfolio, which extends the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to vehicles up to 15 years old.
The official highlighted the favorable economic impact that this regulation will cause, by authorizing a greater number of vehicles to access substantially cheaper fuels.
Muñoz recalled that, until last year, the regulations that allowed gasoline vehicles to be converted to CNG or LPG required that they be no more than five years old. “But last year this term was extended to seven years, following a request from the Ministry of Finance and Deputy Javiera Morales, in order to contribute to the family economy, in the midst of the pandemic,” he recalled.
On this occasion, the Ministry of Transport designed a pilot plan with four vehicles with different levels of age, measured them during a certain period in which they were operating in Magallanes and observed that they did not generate more emissions. Some generated the same and others a little less.
Instead, the tests showed a huge impact on fuel costs for their owners, who have in fact continued to use their upgraded vehicles at excellent monthly savings. “We are talking about a liter of fuel costing 1,200 to 1,300 pesos in Punta Arenas and its equivalent in CNG costs less than 300 pesos per liter, that is, it saves almost 900 pesos per liter and that means that the cost of the conversion is paid in less than a year,” explained the official.
Added to this is the environmental issue, he said. “The emissions of local pollutants are also quite lower and that seems very positive. In terms of CO2 and greenhouse gases, I imagine it could be similar to gasoline vehicles. Therefore, we are talking about a measure that will allow us to move towards a better family economy and with fewer emissions”.
