“Demand for LPG is declining, and the cost of supply and infrastructure maintenance is increasing,” a spokesperson for BP said.
“Sites supplying LPG remain under review.”
Mark Rogan, who drives an LPG car, said BP is the sole supplier of LPG in Deniliquin.
Without a service here, the nearest LPG would be Echuca and Wagga Wagga.
He contacted the Pastoral Times us after being given the impression LPG was soon to be phased out locally
“I own a dedicated LPG vehicle, as do many other residents in Deniliquin, and now feel that I have been ignored/dismissed by BP. It also adds to the trend of removing services from people in rural areas,” he said.
Mr Rogan dismissed BP’s claim that costs for LPG are increasing.
“This is a false argument as the cost is passed onto the customer,” he said.
BP offered no timeline for the phasing out of LPG but said, “BP Deniliquin will not be stopping the supply or sale of LPG in the foreseeable future”.
The NRMA found the cost of LPG plus the removal of a rebate to convert petrol cars to LPG has contributed to the decline in demand.
In 2006, the Australian Government offered rebates to owners who had LPG systems installed on their vehicles or purchased new LPG-fuelled models, the NRMA report found.
“The sale of dual fuel and full-LPG aftermarket systems boomed, and the NRMA’s technical expertise was often called on in the testing and development of these systems. Ford and Holden offered factory-installed systems on Falcons and Commodores until local manufacturing ceased in 2016,” the NRMA stated.
“But automotive LPG sales have been declining over the past decade and now account for just two per cent of total automotive fuels sold in Australia.
“LPG bowsers aren’t being replaced and it’s much harder to find outlets in country areas, as it doesn’t stack up economically for the sites to maintain them.”
The NRMA understands LPG will continue to be sold at large-volume service stations, but the concern going forward is availability in regional areas, concerns shared by Mr Rogan.
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