Zhoushan Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau has published its plans for the development of natural gas refueling infrastructure. Located in the province of Zhejiang and on the East China Sea, Zhoushan City is made up of a 1000 islands, 98 of which are inhabited. The city has focused on natural gas to help promote socio-economic development while striving to maintain a clean and healthy environment.

Zhoushan’s Municipal Development and Reform Commission explains the planning period of 2012-to-2020 is divided into two: 2012-2015 and 2016-2020. Scope of the Zhoushan administrative region includes Dinghai District, Putuo District, Daishan County, Shengsi.

Zhoushan City is connected to mainland China by five trans-oceanic bridges, part of the Yongzhou Expressway – it is the only land route. The city island has numerous ports and has just been approved as the location for the first private Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) bunkering project in China, to be built by Chinese energy company ENN Energy Holdings. The first phase of the project, planned for completion early 2016, is expected to have a receiving capacity of 3 million tons.

Currently, Zhoushan’s vehicle fleet utilizes gasoline and diesel. The city’s fuel transformation will commence with a focus on public transportation and heavy vehicles. The target set for 2015 is 1,135 buses, 1,348 taxis, 1,600 heavy and container trucks.

According to the Zhejiang Natural Gas Station Development Plan (2011-2020 years), the 2015 gasification target for 2015 is set for 45% for buses, 85% for taxis and 12.5% for heavy trucks​​; 2020 gasification rate is 80% for buses, 95% for taxis, and 25% for container trucks and heavy duty trucks. As the project progresses private vehicles are also planned for incorporation into the natural gas fleet.

By 2015, the city will have three L-CNG stations and two LNG stations; by 2020 the number will grow to six and eight stations respectively. Safety distance must comply with “car design and construction of refueling stations” GB50156-2002 (2006 edition) and “liquefied natural gas (LNG) refueling stations technical specifications” NB/T1001-2011 and other related technical standards.

Zhoushan will actively cultivate the market, to develop and introduce vehicle gas instead of oil policy by the introduction of natural gas vehicle-related purchase subsidies.

The plan cites the environmental advantages of using natural gas instead of oil-based fuel which will help ease environmental pollution within the state. Comparatively, natural gas will reduce CO by 74%, HC by 72%, lead dust reduction by 100%, noise reduction 40%. By 2015 and based on an alternative fuel consumption of about 3927 million liters, carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by about 21,891 tons, and other pollutants emissions will be reduced by about 733 tons. By 2020, assuming all planning and development goals are reached and based on alternative fuel consumption of about 9674 million liters, carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by about 53,922 tons, and other pollutants emissions will be reduced by about 1,806 tons..