Gazel will open 26 NGV refueling stations in Chile


Gasco’s general manager, Gerardo Cood, said the company plans to open around 26 refueling stations for natural gas vehicles (NGV) during the next two years with the colors of Gazel in Chile. He also revealed the location of the first six stations that will be inaugurated in December 2009 in the capital city of Santiago de Chile and will join the station which already operates in Concepcion. The executive indicated that the first stations will be in Santiago Centro: in Cueto with Mapocho, Quinta Normal, La Florida and San Bernardo.
Meanwhile, Jaime Alamos, project manager, added that the other two refueling stations, located in Maipú and Renca, correspond to Terpel stations that are already empowered to sell this gaseous fuel and will be tailored to show off the colors of Gazel, the brand with which it operates in Colombia and also in Peru.
Furthermore, Alamos said the idea of participating in the next version of the Dakar rally seeks to demystify the NGV and prove it is safe, reliable and convenient, as the loss of engine power when using this fuel is marginal. In this regard, Cood explained that if these trucks make it along the 9.000 miles that includes the test and, moreover, are quite demanding, it is clear they are a good alternative.
The executive said that to achieve the goals set for the partnership between Gasco and Terpel is vital to increase the vehicle fleet adapted to operate with natural gas in Chile, which is now fully available from the re gasification terminal for liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Quintero. He added that while the target market today are the 5 thousand taxis that are already switched in Santiago, the idea of the company is to increase that number staying in the passenger transport segment.