With the reduction in the tariff for piped natural gas in Paraná, Compagas (Companhia Paranaense de Gás) recorded, in the period from September to the first half of October, an increase of 12.6% in the consumption of Natural Gas (CNG) ) in the state. The increase is compared to the month of August and is justified by the gradual economic recovery and also by the fall in the value of fuel for the final consumer, especially at the stations in Curitiba and the Metropolitan Region.

To encourage this market, Compagas has reduced gas tariffs by 13.29% and has suggested that a price of R $ 2.899 / m³ be charged. “Drivers who supply with CNG, such as fleet owners, taxi drivers and applications, have benefited from a greater reduction in the price of natural gas, which has made the fuel even more attractive for those who use vehicles for daily activities. CNG is more economical and runs more ”, says the commercial manager of Compagas, Mauro Melara.

Advantages - Among the main attributes of CNG is the economy. With a cubic meter of CNG it is possible to run more kilometers than with a liter of ethanol or gasoline - profitability can reach 50%. An average car runs in the city about 14 km with a cubic meter of natural gas, while with 1 liter of alcohol the vehicle travels an average of 7 km.

Still thinking about the economy, CNG users already have a 70% discount on the value of the IPVA. For cars not converted to CNG the IPVA is 3.5% of the value of the car; for converted cars, the rate is only 1%. CNG has other advantages, such as greater security, as it is not possible to adulterate natural gas, in addition to being less polluting, since it has a cleaner burn.

Safety - Any vehicle can be converted to CNG, but to ensure safe use of fuel, some recommendations must be followed. Compagas advises drivers to convert vehicles only in workshops accredited by INMETRO. In Paraná, currently 16 workshops are able to install. Melara also points out that the user should never replace the cylinder with another reservoir. “Cooking gas cylinders or different compressed air tanks cannot be used in conjunction with or replace CNG cylinders. The CNG cylinders are designed and tested for high pressure storage and support it safely, while the other types of cylinders are not ”, he warns.

Regarding refueling with CNG, Melara advises drivers to follow guidelines common to any other type of refueling, such as: turning off the engine, radio, headlights and electrical accessories; turn off the cell phone; do not smoke on the spot and get out of the vehicle. “It is worth mentioning that the supply must be done only by authorized persons; and you should never try to transfer CNG from one cylinder to another ”. In addition, the manager recommends that, after installing the CNG kit and every 12 months after the conversion, the vehicles undergo an inspection, which guarantees the safety of the vehicle by issuing the Vehicle Safety Certificate (CSV).

Reduction - The reduced tariffs were announced by AGEPAR (Regulatory Agency for Public Delegated Services of Paraná) through Resolution No. 018, published in the Official Gazette of the State of Paraná, for application as of August 1, 2020 and valid until 31 January 2021. On average, tariff values were reduced by 11.27%. The industrial sector has an average reduction of 11.41%; while for commerce and residences, the discount can reach 8.32% and 7.15%, respectively.