FIRST REFUELLING STATION FOR LNG FREIGHT VEHICLES OPENED IN SEŽANA

The European Commissioner for Transport, Violeta Bulc, has filled the first vehicle owned by the company Autamarochi and shared the following news for the region: "Slovenia is in the process of establishing the refuelling points for freight vehicles running of liquified natural gas (LNG) which is co-financed by the EU. The LNG as a motor fuel makes the environment more enjoyable, particularly for road freight transport, which account for 25.9% of greenhouse gas emissions in road traffic. The required infrastructure and more accessible alternative energy sources will enable us to make a step forward in the process of promoting our logistics network."

The value of the whole project is EUR 3 million and half of the amount is co-financed by the European Union. The Butan Plin Company, which will implement the project of setting up the necessary infrastructure for the development of the LNGs in Slovenia and Croatia, emphasizes the importance of a proper national policy development that will encourage carriers in the region to use this modern, more environmentally-friendly alternative in road and freight transport. Tomaž Grm, CEO of the Butan Plin Company, stated: "We are happy about this news for the country and the region because it can make a permanent contribution in achieving some of the environmental goals set and the strategic directions of the European Union in this area. The infrastructure will be given its purpose when the necessary national initiatives in favour of the use of this fuel will be implemented. The first Slovenian carriers have decided to purchase LNG towing vehicles and we want even more carriers to make the move, with certain changes".

Along with certain local and foreign carriers, representatives of the Slovenian Chamber of Crafts, the Chamber of Commerce of Slovenia and certain influential Croatian representatives, Peter Gašperšič Ph.D., the Minister of Infrastructure, also participated in the opening ceremony, saying the following during the installation of the modern LNG station: "The transition to low-carbon society will be a major challenge in traffic. At the same time, it will be a stimulus for the scientific research sphere and the economy to look for solutions in this area, with the help of the state as well. Our common goal must be to become one of the leading countries in the field of green transport solutions. These are, above all, solutions for the introduction of fuel cell technology and all types of gas and the solutions in the field of electro-mobility."

Apart from the fact that LNG delivers an ecologically cleaner alternative to road freight transport, less noise, lower fuel consumption and fuel prices, a major advantage is also the vehicles’ large range of up to 1,500 kilometers they can travel with only one refuelling. Fuel prices vary by countries. As an example of good practice we can point out the Netherlands where the excise duty for gas was reduced, while it was raised for diesel, in order to drive the transport companies towards positive changes. In the international company Autamarrochi, with a fleet of more than 750 freight vehicles, there are 20 vehicles running on LNG already, and soon there will be additional 20 of them. The range of these vehicles is remarkable. In Italy, where the company's headquarters are located, there are great incentives for gas in freight road transport, and Roberto Vidoni, the company's director for Slovenia and Croatia, is delighted with its use. In spring, on Slovenian roads there will be three freight vehicles owned by the company Klemen Transport where they believe in the future of this modern alternative among the motor fuels.