Canada: Gaz Metro Supports Renewable Gas as Fuel Initiative

Gaz Métro saluted EBI’s initiative to establish a network of public service stations that will supply natural gas as fuel. The Gaz Métro network is contributing to the project by distributing, at the company’s fuelling stations, the renewable natural gas produced by EBI in Berthierville.

Gaz Métro said it is pleased to use its gas network to link producers and consumers in order to facilitate access to locally produced renewable natural gas.

With the rollout of natural gas fuelling stations, Quebec is acting as a trailblazer in the field in Canada, and following the strong trend in North America towards adopting natural gas as fuel. This solution is available now and can significantly reduce operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).

“We salute this initiative, which contributes directly to developing the market for natural gas as fuel—a necessary and immediate solution for lowering our dependence on oil products while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transportation sector in Quebec,” stated Martin Imbleau, Vice President, Development and Renewable Energies, at the press conference held on Friday at an EBI service station in Montreal East. He added: “Gaz Métro is all the more proud to take part in this project, since we want to develop locally produced renewable natural gas even more—this is a promising avenue that must be developed further in Quebec.”

In parallel with the EBI initiative, Gaz Métro has set up the Blue Road, a network of public and private natural gas fuelling stations mainly targeting heavy vehicles in the freight transportation sector. “There are now over 200 natural gas vehicles on Quebec’s roads, and this is just the beginning! Today’s announcement by EBI strengthens the offer of natural gas as a vehicle fuel, which is excellent news,” said Imbleau.

The transportation sector is responsible for 42.5% of all GHG emissions in Quebec, which makes it the main GHG emitter in the province. Trucking alone accounts for 78.4% of transportation sector emissions, or 33.3% of total GHG emissions. The use of natural gas as fuel is a promising way to reduce the sector’s environmental footprint, while reducing fuel bills. A truck that runs on natural gas emits up to 25% fewer GHGs than diesel, and costs up to 40% less in fuel.

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LNG World News Staff, November 18, 2013; Image: Gaz Métro