|
The Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation has prepared a plan to
implement an alternative fuel programme for all state fleet vehicles.
The development plan will make it mandatory for government motor
vehicles to be configured so they can use natural gas. Yona Killaghane,
managing director of TPDC stated that using natural gas over other
traditional fuels like charcoal, petrol, diesel, liquefied petroleum
gas and heavy fuel oil will also save the government more than $36.62
million in oil products imports, $30 million on the substitution of
charcoal for compressed natural gas for domestic use and $2.5 million
used in hotels every year. Many manufacturers in Dar es Salaam as well,
have switched to using natural gas, with the number estimated at about
30.
According to TPDC, the country saved $3.7 billion between July 2004 and October last year through the use of natural gas.
The conversion of vehicles to use natural gas is being carried out at
two centres by private companies working with government institutions —
one at the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology in collaboration with
Echo Motors Tanzania, and the other at the University of Dar es
Salaam’s Bureau for Industrial Co-operation, which is working with
Triangle Tanzania Ltd.
Hassan M. Rajabu from the University of Dar es Salaam College of
Engineering and Technology, who is co-ordinating the project, said five
technicians have been engaged in the conversion programme under an
Italian expert, Monrado Luca. “The kits are also from Italy but we hope
to find other sources soon. The Italian Emer Group has been involved in
the supply of and training in conversion kits in a number of countries
including Iran, China, Holland, Germany and India,” said Dr Rajabu.
TPDC, in partnership with Pan African Energy Tanzania Ltd, is
championing the exercise, which will cost Tsh3.5 billion ($2.6 million).
PetrolWorld 240110 Photo: East African
|
