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TPDC introduces gas-powered vehicles
2007-07-04 09:24:38
By Felix Andrew
The Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has broken new ground by showcasing that vehicles can run cheaply on natural gas instead of expensive petrol and diesel.
Through the initiative, TPDC hopes that other motor vehicle owners, including institutions would soon choose to convert their automobiles into gas fuelling systems and do away with expensive and environmentally inhospitable fossil fuels.
The excessive burning of fossil fuels is blamed for carbon dioxide emissions, a greenhouse gas blamed for causing global warming.
Speaking to this paper on Monday during the on going Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF), in Dar es Salaam, the TPDC Public Relations Officer, Felix Haule, said TPDC would establish the first natural gas selling centre in Dar es Salaam within this year.
He said the centre would be located at Ubungo close to Songas gas-to-power generators and would be providing services to customers who would have already converted their vehicles into gas burning systems.
TPDC has a pool of experts who can play around with the mechanics of engine adaptation.
One has to part with at least 1m/- to switch some engine parts from fossil based fuelling to gas systems, he said.
TPDC has already procured two cars running on gas and plans are afoot for adapting its remaining office fleet into gas runners.
Some of the advantages likely to be obtained by gas-based vehicle owners include savings on fuel consumption and lower price per unit compared to the fossil fuels.
Cars running on gas are said to have 60 percent reasonable standard of consumption of fuel per distance as compared with those using fossil fuels.
Again, as of yesterday, while the pump prices of petroleum products had shot up to 1,500/-, the same litre of compressed natural gas (CNG) would be sold at 810/-, according to reliable sources.
While this technology looks apparently new on Tanzania`s market, some countries like Argentina, India, Egypt, South Africa and Norway had long past adapted to it.
Meanwhile, TPDC has confirmed that recently discovered natural gas deposits in Mkuranga District, Coast Region would be mined latest three years to come.
The corporation`s principal geologist George Ngwale, said Mkuranga natural gas deposits which were discovered in January this year would be mined from 2010.
`At the moment we are in the process of surveying other possible areas until we strike five wells or even more, as this is widely considered to provide economically viable deposits for miners.
TPDC in collaborating with an exploration company Maurel & Prom would conduct surveys over additional 200 kilometers within Mkuranga District.
The cost of surveying a single gas well is estimated at between USD10m and 20m.
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