The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El Molla, inaugurated the first natural gas supply station in Sharm El Sheikh, South Sinai Governorate, accompanied by South Sinai Governor, Khaled Fouda, with the aim to expand the presidential initiatives of converting cars to run on natural gas.

El Molla stated that the main target during the next three years is to convert 400,000 cars to run on natural gas including 250,000 to replace old cars and the rest 150,000 cars are through the conversion project. He also added that the plan aims to add 325 new natural gas supply station by the end of December 2021 to expand the number of cars running on natural gas. Additionally, El Molla pointed out that the current total number of natural gas supply stations after inaugurating Sharm El Sheikh’s station reached more than 200 stations nationwide. With 86 centers for converting cars to run on natural gas and 12 centers for testing cylinders, the total number of converted cars from the start of the project until now reached about 335,600 cars.

For his part, Fouda praised the efforts of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MoP), indicating that establishing the first natural gas station at Sharm El Sheikh is a vital role to encourage car owners to convert their cars to run on natural gas.

Establishing the new station aligns with the Egyptian International Gas Technology (Gastec)’s plan to expand the usage of natural gas supply services in South Sinai Governorate especially in Sharm El Sheikh, El Tor and Ras Sedr. The Chairman of Gastec, Abdel Fattah Farahat, pointed out that the station will supply several cities such as El Tor and it has a capacity of 1,500 cubic meters per hour to supply 1,500 cars/day.

Finally, the inauguration was attended by the Chairman of Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), Magdy Galal, and the Minister’s Assistant for Transportation and Distribution of Petroleum Products, Mahmoud Nagy.