Natural gas station opens on M74

LNG gives out less pollutants than normal fossil fuels

Scotland's first natural gas motorway refuelling station has been opened on the M74.

The Scottish Executive-backed project opened on Monday between Junction 9 and 10 near Lesmahagow.

Run by a company called Chive Fuels it was built with a £44,000 government grant and will supply vehicles with liquefied natural gas, or LNG, as fuel.

Natural gas is 30% cheaper than diesel and is also more environmentally efficient.

LNG is produced by cooling natural gas to a temperature of approximately -160°C, where it condenses to a liquid.

Greener fuel

The liquefaction removes oxygen, carbon dioxide, sulphur compounds and water from the gas, which is mainly made up of methane, making LNG a very clean-burning automotive fuel.

Using the fuel for vehicles significantly reduces emissions of sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide, the pollutants of most concern from road transport.

Deputy Enterprise Minister Lewis Macdonald said: "I warmly welcome the opening of this LNG refuelling station in Scotland.

"As the first publicly accessible refuelling point in Scotland it gives a major boost to the haulage industry.

"The lower cost of LNG provides an opportunity for the haulage industry to seriously consider an alternative to diesel.

"In addition, through reduced pollutants Scotland's environment will also gain significant benefits."

The Lesmahagow facility is the sixth station of its kind in the UK.