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Towngas and liquefied
petroleum gas (LPG) are the main types
of fuel gas used throughout Hong Kong
for domestic, commercial and industrial
purposes. In addition, LPG is used as
a fuel for LPG taxis and light buses,
and natural gas is used for electricity
generation.
Hong Kong has about
2 million gas customers in the domestic,
commercial and industrial sectors. In
2005, Towngas accounted for 82 per cent
of the total fuel gas sold in energy terms,
and LPG for 18 per cent.
Towngas is manufactured
at plants in Tai Po and Ma Tau Kok, both
using naphtha as feedstock. They have
output capacities of 9.45 and 2.6 million
cubic metres per day, respectively. Towngas
is supplied through an integrated distribution
system to about 1.6 million customers.
The mains network extends throughout Hong
Kong via a 137-kilometre high-pressure
pipeline and 3 081 kilometres of
distribution mains.
LPG is imported into
Hong Kong by sea and stored at five terminals
on Tsing Yi Island before being distributed
to approximately 722 000 customers
and LPG vehicle filling stations. In 2005,
about 18 per cent of total sales was supplied
in cylinders by 236 appointed gas distributors
(operating 589 cylinder wagons), about
12 per cent was distributed to bulk storage
installations providing piped LPG supplies
to residential and commercial developments,
and the remaining 70 per cent to vehicle
filling stations as fuel for more than
20 000 LPG taxis and light buses.
Cylinder LPG is now used in less than
22 per cent of domestic dwellings.
Natural gas is currently
used for power generation at the Black
Point and Castle Peak power stations.
It is imported from the Yacheng 13-1 gas
field off Hainan Island in southern China
via a 780-kilometre high-pressure submarine
pipeline. The Gas Safety Ordinance
regulates the importation, manufacture,
storage, transport, supply and use of
fuel gas. All gas supply companies, gas
installers and gas contractors must be
registered with the Gas Authority (the
Director of Electrical and Mechanical
Services) to carry out their operations.
At year-end, there were seven registered
gas supply companies, 3 613 registered
gas installers and 440 registered gas
contractors. |