Bokaro: The first compressed natural gas (CNG) station of the state will be opened at Indian Oil’s retail outlet at Nayamoad on Saturday. The CNG will be in the form of coal bed methane (CBM), which is commercially exploited by Oil Natural and Gas Corporation (ONGC) in Telgadia and Gomia areas of Bokaro. CNG at least 40% cheaper but more environment-friendly than petrol and diesel.“As many as 99 CNG stations will come up in Bokaro, Ramgarh and Hazaribag districts in due course. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) authorised Inidan Oil to supply natural gas in the form of piped natural gas (PNG) to domestic, commercial and industrial sectors and in the form of CNG for transport sector,” Veena Kumari, chief manager (planning and coordination) of Indian Oil said.
Indian Oil will invest about Rs 600 crore in city gas distribution (CGD) project in Bokaro, Hazaribag and Ramgarh districts over a period of eight years.
“Natural gas is not only clean and environment-friendly but also safe and convenient to use because of its high auto-ignition temperature, low inflammability range and being lighter than air. Besides being a cheaper fuel, CNG offers better mileage than LPG and petrol and reduces maintenance cost of vehicles that use them,” Kumari said.