CNG Gas' Advantages and Uses as an Alternative Energy Source

Natural gas is one of the most widely used energy sources in Indonesia, particularly for cooking and industrial processes. For household use, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has been the fuel of choice across the country.

For most Indonesians, LPG has been a part of their lives, such as cooking and water heating. In fact, aside from LPG, there are other types of gas that we can use.

One of the natural gases developed by the Indonesian government is compressed natural gas (CNG). This article discusses CNG gas, its benefits, and its uses in various sectors. So, read this article completely!

What Is CNG Gas?

CNG gas is natural gas compressed at high pressure to be less than 1% of its standard atmospheric pressure. CNG is produced by extracting natural gas from underground.

Then, it is processed to remove impurities and compressed to a pressure of approximately 3,000–3,600 psi. This compression process reduces the gas’s volume, making it easier to store and distribute.

Natural gas usually contains gas mixes, such as butane, propane, ethane, and methane. On the other hand, CNG gas contains 90–95% methane, and the rest is butane, propane, and ethane.

Advantages of CNG Gas

CNG offers various advantages, especially as an alternative energy source. Here are some of the benefits you should know:

1. Low Emissions

Compared to gasoline, diesel, and other conventional fuels, CNG is considered cleaner because it produces fewer harmful emissions, such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides.

CNG contains less carbon, resulting in fewer greenhouse gas emissions from combustion. That is why CNG is now being considered as a more environmentally friendly fuel alternative.

2. Stable Price

Natural gas prices are not influenced by oil market fluctuations, making them more stable than other fossil fuels.

3. Resources Availability

Natural gas is a fairly abundant resource worldwide, including in Indonesia. The Directorate General of Oil and Gas at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources explains that Indonesia’s natural gas potential is quite promising, with reserves of approximately 41.62 TCF.

Additionally, 68 potential basins in Indonesia have not yet been explored. Given this potential, the government can promote the development of CNG infrastructure so that it can be utilized even more widely.

Challenges in Utilizing CNG

CNG gas has many advantages, but you must note that it also comes with challenges. The biggest disadvantage of CNG utilization is the infrastructure.

CNG is not widely used yet in Indonesia, making it challenging to find CNG stations, especially in remote areas. Furthermore, CNG also requires a fairly large storage space because it must be compressed to high pressure.

Uses of CNG Gas

CNG is widely used across many sectors. Here are its applications:

Households: CNG can be used for cooking and heating water.
Transportations: One of the main uses of CNG is as a vehicle fuel. Compared to gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles, CNG is more affordable and produces lower emissions. Generally, CNG is used for buses and trucks.
Industries: CNG is commonly used as fuel in the food, manufacturing, and chemical industries. Not only that, but CNG can also be utilized as a raw material in various industrial processes.
Power generations: CNG can reduce pollutants and carbon emissions in power generation.

Differences Between CNG and LPG

You may be wondering what distinguishes CNG from LPG and the reason behind its choice as one of the alternative energy sources.

To provide some context, LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) is a gaseous fuel derived from processed natural gas and petroleum refining. LPG consists of a mixture of liquefied propane and butane stored in cylinders at a specific pressure.

The differences between CNG and LPG are as follows:

CNG	LPG
Mostly methane.	Propane and butane mix.
Stored in the form of high-pressure gas (200-250 bar).	Stored in the form of medium-pressure liquid (5–10 bar).
Lighter than air, allowing it to disperse rapidly when leaking.	Settles on the lower surface.
Lower greenhouse gas emissions than LPG.	Higher greenhouse gas emissions than CNG.
Safer because it disperses into the air easily.	Heavier than the air and highly flammable.
Needs high-pressure cylinders, making it more pricey.	Requires a cylindrical or toroidal tank and a specific injection rail, making it more economical.
Extracted from an oil well, coal well, natural gas well, or coal-methane well.	Extracted from a reservoir.

That concludes the information about CNG gas, including the benefits, uses, and differences from LPG. This compressed gas can be an alternative energy source to conventional fuels.

In addition to CNG, LPG also remains an important part of Indonesia’s energy needs. To ensure its optimal utilization, integrated and secure logistics support is a key factor.

Chandra Asri Group, as a provider of energy, chemical, and infrastructure solutions, offers land and sea logistics services for chemicals and LPG.

Through our subsidiary, PT Chandra Shipping International (CSI), we operate 10+ LPG and chemical carriers with capacities ranging from approximately 4,200 to 9,600 DWT.

We also provide integrated logistics infrastructure solutions through PT SCG Barito Logistics (SBL), PT Chandra Cold Chain (CCC), and PT Chandra Warehouse Cilegon (CWC), with 200+ trucks of various types, 700+ pallet positions, and warehouses covering 51K+ m².

Our logistics services include inter-island transportation, export and import facilities, ocean freight services, and customs clearance. So, do not hesitate to rely on Chandra Asri Group as #YourGrowthPartner!