The move could see motorists buying CNG ready vehicles without pay the motor vehicle tax and VAT.
Energy Affairs Minister Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan made the statement Friday at the sod-turning ceremony for the construction of a CNG and Liquid Fuel service station at Brentwood Development, Chaguanas.
It's the first of several CNG mega-stations that the People’s Partnership has promised to build.
The minister said a CNG task force is exploring the importation of motor vehicles build to use natural gas. "These vehicles are referred to as Original Equipment Manufactured or OEM Natural Gas Vehicles," she explained.
"And in order to ensure that we make this plan a good one for citizens, I want to tell you that these vehicles will be imported free of Motor vehicle Tax and Value Added Tax. As such, the price of these OEM NGVs is expected to be very attractive,” she added.
Seepersad-Bachan also revealed that “as a show of leadership by example” the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs will be converting its fleet vehicles to CNG.
"And I expect my colleagues in other Ministries to follow suit. I will also be encouraging Cabinet colleagues to consider the same for all Ministries and convert their fleets to CNG."
The minister said the Public Transit service Corporation (PTSC) is considering converting its vehicles to CNG. She noted that it would cost about US$3 million to convert the PTSC's fleet of 400 buses. She said the conversion would be completed within six months of the PTSC getting approval to do it.
“In the context of bus transport in Trinidad and Tobago, I understand that the conversion of diesel powered buses to natural gas use is not as expensive as originally projected and consideration is currently being given to the conversion of these vehicles by the Public Transport Service Corporation.
The minister said her ministry is working aggressively to get the public to buy into the CNG idea as an alternative fuel for motor vehicles.
"In June of this year, a series of public awareness and education campaigns will begin...I’ve had some glimpses of the campaign and I’m very confident that citizens will be very happy with what they see and learn," she said.
The minister added, "I also want to tell you that we are currently evaluating additional incentives aimed at further enhancing the economics of conversion. This is in addition to the fiscal incentives already implemented effective January this year.”
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