India is taking a major step towards cleaning up its trucking industry by turning to liquefied natural gas (LNG). The country’s Oil Ministry is pushing for a significant shift away from diesel fuel, proposing a policy that encourages the conversion of a third of existing long-haul trucks to LNG. Additionally, they plan to mandate that one-third of all new trucks run on this cleaner-burning fuel.
The move is driven by India’s serious air pollution problem, with the transportation sector responsible for nearly 15% of the country’s energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. LNG emissions are significantly lower than diesel, around 25% less, making it a crucial tool in combating this environmental challenge.
India’s approach mirrors China’s recent success in promoting LNG trucks. In China, LNG trucks now account for roughly 20% of all new truck sales. To accelerate this transition in India, the ministry is considering incentives for converting trucks to LNG, offering reduced road tolls, and prioritizing LNG trucks for government transport contracts.
This shift towards LNG also aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious goal of increasing India’s reliance on natural gas to 15% of its energy mix by 2030. Currently, natural gas accounts for only 6% of the country’s energy consumption. The move to LNG in trucking will contribute significantly towards achieving this target, further reducing India’s dependence on fossil fuels and promoting cleaner energy sources.
