WLPGA Asia Autogas Summit in Hong Kong

The WLPGA held its second Asia Autogas Summit in Hong Kong on Monday 3rd December 2012 at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Kowloon.

Over 100 attended the event which was sponsored by SIHI, Petredec Investments, Batchen and Eco – Hong Kong China Gas. The day was moderated by Nick Black from Argus Media and Editor of LPG World. Speakers from the Hong Kong government included Dr Vanessa Au, the senior environmental protection officer of the Environmental Protection Department, who described the history of the governments’ very successful decision to switch its entire taxi fleet from diesel to Autogas ten years ago. Joseph Chan, from the governments’ Electrical and Mechanical Services Department described his department’s role in regulating Autogas safely in Hong Kong.
Dr Vanessa Au and Mr Joseph Chan Other speakers included Ken Lunn, a Hong Kong consultant responsible for many of the Autogas station designs in Hong Kong, and ML Lam, the vice president of Eco Environmental Investments Ltd., and operator of one of the largest Autogas stations in Hong Kong.
Mr Ken Lunn and Mr ML Lam After showcasing the Hong Kong story delegates then heard from Eric Johnson, Managing Director of Atlantic Consulting, Switzerland who described the implications and opportunities for Autogas in Asia and elsewhere in the world following the World Health Organisations’ announcement in June 2012 that diesel emissions were confirmed as a group one carcinogen to humans. The WLPGA Asia Autogas Summit was held during the same week as the Better Air Quality Conference organized by the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) in Manila, Sophie Punte, the Executive Director of CAI-Asia, spoke about her programme and how Autogas can play a role in mitigating street air pollution.
Mr Eric Johnson and Ms Sophie Punte James Batchen then described his companies Autogas dispensing equipment before challenging the delegates to create a more compelling case for the Autogas proposition. Mr Kang from the Korean LP Gas Association described the history of Autogas in South Korea before Cielo Fregil from Global Ambient Hi-Technology Systems Inc., in the Philippines presented the exciting initiative of converting the highly polluting diesel engine Jeepneys to Autogas in Manila.
Mr James Batchen and Mr Saidul Islam Saidul Islam from Petredec gave the delegates an interesting description of the development of Autogas in Bangladesh and how the opportunities are now being created for growth because of the shortage of natural gas in the country which is leading to the closure of the CNG filling station network and owners of NG vehicles now switching to Autogas. Joel Pedessac, the Chairman of the WLPGA GAIN network and head of the French LP Gas Association (CFBP) presented the delegates with a summary of the Autogas position in Europe. Suyash Gupta from the Indian Autogas Alliance joined the speakers for a round table when many questions were answered about various topics discussed during the day.
Mr Joel Pedessac and Mr Suyash Gupta  -  Mr David Tyler with Mr Nick Black and Dr Vanessa Au  WLPGA Director, David Tyler, closed the Summit thanking the sponsors, speakers and delegates for attending this most successful event.
Copies of the presentations and some photographs taken during the day can be accessed by clicking here.
The following day the WLPGA arranged a tour of the Sinopec Autogas filling station in Kung Tong. Kowloon. The station is the largest dedicated Autogas filling station in the world with 12 dispensers and 24 nozzles delivering over 140,000 litres/day of Autogas around the clock. Nearly 30 delegates took advantage of this tour which was provided as part of the registration for the Autogas Summit. James Batchen personally described the operation of the Autogas dispensing equipment which his company had provided.     For more information about Autogas events please contact David Tyler on: dtyler@worldlpgas.com