CNPC to boost LNG sales

China’s largest integrated energy company does its bit for cleaner energy.

China National Petroleum Corporation intends to increase sales of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and encourage use of LNG-powered vehicles by 2015 to support the government’s push for cleaner energy.

CNPC plans to sell 11.5 billion cubic metres of LNG to domestic users by the end of 2015, and will promote the use of LNG in some 200,000 vehicles by the same year.

CNPC’s two main LNG receiving terminals with total annual capacity of 6.5 million tonnes became operational last year. China is converting some buses and trucks and fishing boats to burn cheaper and cleaner LNG despite the lack of consistent design and technological standards.

China had some 1.5 million gas-powered vehicles in 2011, most of which use compressed natural gas.