BOCA CHICA, Dominican Republic.-  President Leonel Fernandez yesterday headed the inaugural of the country’s first natural gas compression and distribution  plant, built at a cost of over US$10 million, and aims to supply 143,000 vehicles with that fuel in the next 3 years.

The plant, located in the Punta Caucedo industrial facilities, will work with natural gas imported by AES Andrés, which will be odorized and compressed so that industries, vehicles and homes can use it.

Fernandez, after cutting the ribbon to place the plant in operation, met for over 30 minutes with the main executives of the firm Linea Clave International, Ricardo Canalda and Rodolfo Francolino, and representatives of the Government’s energy area. They spoke about the fuel’s profile and marketing and the installation of shops that will adapt the vehicles to use natural gas.

To install the system will cost US$700 per vehicle, with 140 stations to sell the fuel in the entire national territory.

Canalda said natural gas is not only "friendly" to the environment, it’s also 23% cheaper than the liquefied petroleum gas, which is subsidized and costs the US$200 million annually.