Because of Safety Concerns, the Malaysian Government Plans to Phase Out CNG-powered Vehicles.

The Malaysian government has unveiled its intention to gradually discontinue the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) for vehicles and to cease the sale of natural gas vehicles (NGV) within the nation.

During a recent press conference, the Minister of Transport made this announcement, as reported by Free Malaysia Today (FMT), a local news outlet. In Malaysia, CNG is commonly referred to as NGV. Minister Fook indicated that, effective July 1, 2025, CNG-powered vehicles will no longer be eligible for registration or operation in the country. He also mentioned that Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), the state-owned oil and gas corporation, will progressively stop selling CNG at its stations, beginning on the same date. The minister noted that with approximately 44,383 NGVs currently in operation—representing only 0.2 percent of the total vehicle population in Malaysia, excluding motorcycles—the initiative aims to enhance the safety of road users and the general public. “The NGV tanks in these vehicles are nearing the end of their operational lifespan and require replacement, as these tanks typically have a safe usage duration of 15 years,” Fook explained. He further highlighted concerns regarding some vehicle owners who have modified their cars to use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, which pose significant safety risks. The minister reported that such vehicles have been involved in explosions during accidents. Fook assured that the government will implement an assistance program to support owners of CNG-powered vehicles throughout this transition period. “Taxi drivers operating NGV vehicles will qualify for a one-time RM3,000 e-voucher through Petronas’s Setel mobile application,” he stated. “To be eligible, they must have been registered with the Land Public Transport Agency prior to October 1. “For owners of dual-fuel vehicles, they can have their NGV kits removed at no cost at designated workshops approved by the transport ministry, provided their vehicles were registered with the Road Transport Department (JPJ) before October 1. “Finally, owners of vehicles solely powered by NGV will receive a one-time payment based on the current market value of their vehicles, which will be assessed by an independent evaluator. For this initiative, it is required that the vehicles have been registered with the JPJ prior to October 1. Once the offer is accepted, the vehicles will be transported to an authorized automotive treatment facility for disposal and deregistration by the JPJ. Fook emphasized the importance of this measure to prevent the potential misuse of the vehicles or any illegal modifications, which could pose a risk to public safety. He stated that payments associated with the support package will be processed within three to seven working days following the receipt of a vehicle's certificate of destruction and deregistration slip. Malaysia began utilizing compressed natural gas in the late 1990s specifically for taxicabs and airport limousines. In Nigeria, the federal government is advocating for the adoption of CNG as a substitute for petrol in transportation. This initiative, introduced by President Bola Tinubu to mitigate the effects of the petrol subsidy removal on citizens, has already attracted over $200 million in investments, with plans to establish 1,000 conversion centers nationwide. Recently, there was an incident involving a car explosion linked to a CNG-converted vehicle in Benin, the capital of Edo State.