BUSES to ply in the next phases of the Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (BRT) project will have their engines run using natural gas to save operational costs, the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has revealed.
“Plans were to use natural gas for buses
currently operating in the first phase of the BRT but this was not
possible due to some technicalities,” a TPDC official, Mr Ismail Naleja,
explained at the ongoing 40th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair
(DITF).
He ruled out the possibility of
converting the operating systems of buses currently plying in the BRT
since their engines are diesel-run.
“It could have been possible to modify
the operating systems if the motor vehicles were using petrol.
Diesel-run engines are not compatible with systems used in natural gas,”
the official explained.
At present, there are 60 motor vehicles
in the country, which have had their engines modified to use petrol and
natural gas but the official was positive that the number will
significantly increase when the BRT buses will start using natural gas
in their next phases.
He called on Tanzanians to modify their
vehicles to use gas, which is abundantly available in the country as it
was cheaper compared to petroleum products.
Mr Naleja explained that TPDC was in
touch with the BRT operators to ensure that buses imported for the next
phases are compatible to natural gas use, which will significantly
reduce operating costs for the modern public transport project. “With
the use of natural gas, even fares would be lower.
One kilogramme of gas covers a distance
where one and half litre of petrol or diesel is used. “One would part
with 1,500/- for one kilogramme of gas and yet one and half litre of
fuel costs about 3,000/-.
In the same vein, a vehicle using
natural gas will be serviced once while that of petrol and diesel will
be serviced twice in the same period,” he explained.
On the other hand, the use of natural
gas in motor vehicles is deemed environmentally-friendly since it does
not involve carbon emissions as opposed to petroleum products. He
admitted, however, that the major challenge facing use of natural gas
for motor vehicles is shortage of filling stations.
There is currently one station at Ubungo
selling gas. However, he said that plans are underway to set up 25
filling stations in Dar es Salaam. According to the TPDC official, the
cost for converting petrol-run vehicles is about 2 million/- per
vehicle.
However, he was quick to add that the
cost can be reimbursed within five months due to low operating costs of
using the energy. The use of alternative fuels, particularly natural
gas, has been deliberated for quite some time, given adequate reserves
of the natural resource in the country
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