Data from Colombias statistics show a continuous and significant increase in the fleet of compressed natural gas vehicles. As of 2017, 562,614 cars were registered on methane. At the same time, the number of CNG filling stations exceeded 800 filling stations. GNC fuel saturation is about 4.5% of the countrys total fuel balance, and the monthly sales volume is over 45 million cubic meters. The number of authorised re-use centres in the country reached 150 units.
Natural gas vehicles are gaining popularity primarily due to price stability, as the price of gasoline continues to rise. In addition to the economic benefits, the use of CNG fuel contributes to reducing environmental pollution. The use of compressed natural gas reduces the emission of ultrafine particles (PM2.5) by about 100% compared to the use of oxygenated gasoline in spark-ignition engines. It also reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 30%.
In terms of high tonnage transport, Colombia has more than 1,500 natural gas vehicles, including passenger transportation, trucks, tractors and garbage trucks. Public and private transport switched to CNG due to its economic advantages, saving around 50% on petrol and 35% for diesel.
As an additional support measure, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism reduced the tax on the import of vehicles powered exclusively by natural gas by 5%.