Gazprom proposes natural gas filling stations in Europe

MOSCOW, June 27 (RIA Novosti) - Gazprom is proposing opening a chain of filling stations using natural gas as an alternative car fuel across Europe, the chief of the Russian energy giant said on Friday.

"We propose drawing up a joint project to establish a chain of natural gas filling stations to our European partners," Alexei Miller told an annual shareholder meeting.

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) are substitutes for gasoline, diesel or propane fuel.

They are considered to be a more environmentally clean and safer than other motor fuels in the event of a spill: natural gas is lighter than air, and it disperses quickly when it leaks.

"There is no and will be no viable alternative to fossil fuels in the next ten years," Miller said adding that plans to switch to biofuels has provoked a global food crisis.