Converting cars to run on natural gas has achieved unprecedented results, with the support of the government’s reforms on July 5 to the pricing mechanism of the petroleum products, according to a press release.

A report received by the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El Molla, clarified that around 17,125 cars were converted into gas-powered ones from July to October, in addition to selling around 192 million cubic feet (mmcf) of natural gas to dual-fueled vehicles.

Accordingly, natural gas filling companies are carrying out a comprehensive program to increase the number of natural gas filling stations across the country. Thus, two new stations were opened in September and will start operating in November. In addition, four more stations are under construction, to be operational by 2020.

Furthermore, the report pointed out the government’s plan, through the formed committee, to convert around 147,000 new taxis to run on natural gas, as well as constructing 366 natural gas filling stations in three years starting from 2020.

It is worth noting that the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA) is responsible for financing the conversion project with around EGP 1.2 billion, and the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has allocated EGP 6.7 billion to finance the construction of natural gas filling stations.