Sustainable transport solutions provider Scania, together with the logistics company Vlantana and natural gas infrastructure developer SG Dujos, have unveiled the first compressed natural gas- (CNG) fuelled truck in Lithuania.
“Scania offers sustainable and innovative solutions for transport, and the new generation CNG R410 truck is one such example,” said Darius Snieška, the director of Scania Lietuva. “It is an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution enabling reduction of CO2 and other emissions by 15 per cent while offering fuel efficiency. During the CNG field test we are aiming to collect more detailed information and data for alternative fuel solutions.”
There is a growing demand for trucks that are compliant with the highest environmental standards in the logistics industry as a result of improved infrastructure and good economic viability for hauliers.
Vlantana will be the first to take advantage of the Scania CNG trucks.
“The natural gas Scania trucks provide a great opportunity to become front runners in sustainable transport and to contribute to our eco-mobility,” said Vladas Stončius, the executive manager of Vlantana.
Mr Stončius believes that “besides a chance to drive competitive advantage by reducing our environmental footprint and company expenses, the Scania CNG truck should be considered as a great example preparing for the next stage, which is a liquefied natural gas (LNG) network in Lithuania.” He adds that the “positive economic and environmental effect of natural gas-powered trucks will become more important for stakeholders, as they will be able to contribute to infrastructure-related decisions. LNG carrier Independence (Lithuania’s floating storage regasification unit) suggests high potential and opportunities in this area; in particular towards the rapid development of an LNG filling station network in the country.”
At present Lithuania has nine gas compression stations for CNG trucks, located in Vilnius, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, and Panevėžys, The first LNG stations for vehicles in Lithuania are set to become operational in 2019.
There is already a network of CNG stations in emerging Europe: there are over ten CNG stations in Estonia, over 20 in Poland (one in almost every large city), as well as a highly-developed network in the Czech Republic.
The use of natural gas in Lithuania is still relatively new.
“The era of natural gas as a vehicle fuel in Lithuania only started to take off this year. It is becoming a perfect alternative for the transport market, not only because of the environmental aspects but the affordable prices as well,” said Virginijus Korsakas, CEO of SG Dujos, the leading natural gas infrastructure developer in Lithuania.
“In 2019, we are planning to open at least two CNG stations, and the first LNG station for vehicles in Lithuania,” Mr Korsakas added.
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Photo: SG Dujos
