Viktor Zubkov, Chairman of the Gazprom Board of Directors, took part today in the opening ceremony for a mobile refueler platform in the Novopetrovskaya settlement, Pavlovsky District, Krasnodar Territory. In the course of the ceremony, the Barsuk T.L. farm’s machinery was fueled with natural gas for the first time.

The event was attended by Mikhail Likhachev, Director General of Gazprom Gazomotornoye Toplivo, heads of the relevant units of Gazprom and its subsidiaries, and representatives of the authorities of the Krasnodar Territory.

Gazprom makes extensive efforts to expand the use of natural gas as a vehicle fuel. It is planned to, inter alia, work in concert with domestic agricultural companies to install filling units near agricultural facilities on a cost-sharing basis.

The first of such projects is currently underway at the Barsuk T.L. farm, which built a special platform for a mobile refueler. Gazprom’s refueler can service 40 to 50 vehicles per day, with each fill-up taking merely 10 to 15 minutes. Later on, the refueler will be replaced with a compressed natural gas (CNG) unit, which can refuel more vehicles. The farm will build a supply pipeline, while Gazprom will be responsible for installing the CNG unit and providing fuel.

The first stage of the project involves converting all motor vehicles used by the Barsuk T.L. farm to natural gas. At the second stage, it is planned to provide natural gas as a vehicle fuel to the ten nearest agricultural companies.

“Krasnodar Territory companies were the first in Russia to join forces with Gazprom to use natural gas in agricultural machinery on a cost-sharing basis. Gazprom sees great potential in working with domestic agricultural companies to convert vehicles to gas. Today, one cubic meter of natural gas at a filling station costs RUB 13.4 on average, which is much cheaper than gasoline or diesel fuel. Converting 100 units of agricultural equipment to gas as part of this pilot project could lead to savings of RUB 186 million per year. In addition, using natural gas as a vehicle fuel considerably extends service life and reduces operating costs.

Spreading the use of natural gas as a vehicle fuel in agriculture is imperative if we want to make food products more affordable domestically,” said Viktor Zubkov.