Ministry says such steps are necessary, because low oil price worldwide is making natural gas a more expensive option, despite environmental advantages.
inistry officials on Thursday urged Israeli gas companies to lower natural gas prices, saying it is critical to ensuring the resource’s attractiveness to Israeli industry.
Such steps are necessary, according to the ministry, because the low oil price worldwide is making natural gas a more expensive option, despite its environmental advantages.
Switching over to natural gas is the most effective way to reduce air pollution, which comes mainly from factories, heavy vehicles such as buses, and the use of coal to generate electricity, Environmental Protection Minister Avi Gabbay stressed at a press conference in Tel Aviv.
“Lower the price – the market will flourish and that will be good for your sales, for your production, and for the cost of living,” he said, addressing the natural gas companies.
As part of the country’s continual transition to natural gas use, ministry director-general Yisrael Dancziger said his office hopes to this year convert trucks, buses and taxis into hybrid vehicles that run on natural gas as well as gasoline. He warned, however, that such a process cannot occur if the price of natural gas does not come down.
“Despite the desire of companies to switch over to natural gas, it has not proven worthwhile for them to do that because of the price,” he said.