July 15, 2023. The Road Observatory of the Automotive Association of Peru (AAP) reveals that the 2022 figure for the conversion of vehicles to compressed natural gas (CNG) tripled the result of 2019 (pre-pandemic year).
“The conversion of vehicles to natural gas during 2022 -73.563 units in total- exceeded by more than 350% compared to 2019, a pre-pandemic year”, as stated by the AAP through the latest report released by its Road Observatory.
In this regard, Alberto Morisaki, Manager of Economic Studies and Statistics of the AAP, pointed out that one of the reasons why Peruvians opted for the conversion to CNG of their vehicles was the increase in prices of fossil fuels. “There is no doubt that the increase in inflation in the country, accelerated by the war between Russia and Ukraine, had an impact on the increase in oil prices, which is why many Peruvians opted for a cheaper solution such as CNG.”
In 2022, he added, the record number of 394.048 vehicles in circulation throughout Peru converted to natural gas and 346 service stations that provide this fuel distributed throughout the country was reached.
“Despite the fact that in Peru a total of 769.290 cubic meters of natural gas has been sold in 2022, the highest figure in recent years, from the AAP we are convinced that the mass use of natural gas should be promoted through an articulated strategy that involves the participation of the private sector, providing the necessary incentives so that through public-private investment mechanisms, and the necessary regulation and supervision, compliance with the commitments assumed in it is ensured,” Morisaki said.
In this sense, he added that the State should focus on putting into effect the regulations that are necessary for Peru to migrate, effectively, to an energy matrix in transportation made up of less polluting fuels, since it is ranked 38 as one of the countries with the worst air quality in the world and it ranks first in Latin America according to the Air Quality report of 2022.
