Engineer Tarek El-Molla, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, inaugurated the integrated fuel refueling station in the Abbasiya area, after its development, so that the station would provide car catering services with natural gas, liquid fuel (gasoline 92,95) and electric charging according to the latest international systems. The national plan that is currently being implemented to expand the use of natural gas as a fuel for cars comes under the umbrella of the presidential initiative launched by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in this field to provide distinguished services to citizens that achieve full economic benefit for them and reduce burdens through the use of natural gas as a low-cost fuel that achieves a large financial difference In the interest of the citizen, President Sisi directed the expansion and expansion of gas stations in all cities, roads and hubs to facilitate and encourage citizens to use them .
The minister added that the petroleum sector, in implementation of the president’s initiative, is currently continuing to expand in this field, as it succeeded in doubling the number of natural gas car refueling stations that currently provide services to 375 stations nationwide, from about 180 stations only less than a year ago, and aims to operate an unauthorized number. A precedent of these stations is up to 400 new stations during the coming period within the framework of an ongoing plan to bring the number of stations submitted to the plan to 1,000 to achieve the spread of the service in all regions, motivate the citizen and facilitate its users .
Al-Mulla indicated that cooperation and coordination is taking place between the various ministries and relevant government agencies to expedite the implementation of the presidential initiative to expand the use of natural gas as a fuel for cars. The replacement and renewal system, in addition to the expansion of the current car conversion program in the petroleum sector’s more than 100 conversion centers at the level of the Republic, and work is underway to increase it, pointing out that the steady increase in the volume of consumption of natural gas as car fuel in the local market, which reaches Currently, 85 million cubic feet per day is considered a positive indicator of increasing citizens’ awareness and their willingness to use it, in order to benefit both citizens and the economy within the framework of the low cost of gas and the rationalization of the consumption of conventional fuel from gasoline.and diesel.
The minister also stressed that the Italian company Eni is an important strategic partner for Egypt, and that its orientation to invest in the field of liquid fuel distribution in the local market and the establishment of integrated stations confirms its keenness on the success and development of the partnership extending since the fifties with the petroleum sector as one of the largest companies working in the search for oil and gas, as it was keen to diversify the fields of Its investments in Egypt in various petroleum activities, in its belief in the current climate of stability in Egypt, which strongly supports attracting the investments of major foreign companies to the Egyptian market and contributes to the development of services provided to the citizen in a large way through international companies in the position of Eni .
The Minister listened to an explanation from Engineer Abdel Fattah Farhat, President of Gastec Company, in which he explained that the Abbasiya station is the first integrated station of the company to be opened and operated in Cairo Governorate, after the opening and operation of other stations in Port Said, Tanta, Beni Suef and Damietta, indicating that Gastec is planned during This year, the opening and operation of a large number of integrated stations in the governorates of Assiut, Sohag, Giza, Alexandria, Beheira, Port Said, Ismailia, Luxor and Damietta .
He added that the integrated Abbasiya station, which was developed by Misr Gas Company, operates with an operating capacity of 1200 cubic meters of gas per hour, which qualifies it to supply 1,800 cars per day through 8 supply points , and provides gasoline producers 92 and 95 through 8 supply outlets, in addition to providing a charging service. Electric cars through the facilities designated for this and the payment of the value of charging by magnetic card or through an application on smart phones, and the station relies on solar energy for its operation .
The station is characterized by an advanced design by placing gas facilities, including compressors and gas tanks, on the upper floor of the catering canopy, which allows for large areas in the stations that can be used in various activities to serve customers, which would contribute to the development of the infrastructure of gas catering facilities and support the spread of natural gas catering stations. This is in addition to developing the current form to provide space in the catering area to increase safety rates .
The inauguration was attended by Eng. Abed Ezz El-Regal, CEO of the Petroleum Authority, Dr. Magdy Galal, President of the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), Eng. Ahmed Mahmoud, Vice President of EGAS for Planning and Gas Delivery Projects, Eng. Magdy Tawfik, Vice President of the Petroleum Corporation for the Transportation and Distribution of Petroleum Products, and Eng. Mahmoud Nagy, Deputy Minister for Transmission and Distribution Petroleum products and representatives of the Italian company Eni .