Roads and Transport Authority experiments powering three vehicles by CNG instead of fossil fuel

The move marks an initial step taken in cooperation with Lootah BC Gas LLC, and is bound to have a positive bearing on RTA drive to diversify the sources of energy used in mass transit means in future in case the experiment proves to be successful and viable.

Abdullah Al Madani, CEO of Corporate Technical Support Services Sector cum Head of RTA Power Saving Team, said, "The experiment is undertaken in the implementation of the directives of the senior leadership; which advocate the adoption of constructive ideas contributing to environmental conservation efforts, and achieving the strategic goals mapped out by the RTA with a view to achieving environmental, financial and assets sustainability."

He said, "The CNG minimizes the carbon emissions which are harmful to the environment compared to fossil fuel since the carbon monoxide, which is a resultant of fossil fuel combustion in the engine, is one of the main causes of global warming."

"The use of CNG will also bring about considerable saving on expenditures compared to the costs of fossil fuel as it slashes around 70% of costs associated with the use of fossil fuel, besides increasing the prescribed lifespan of the vehicle, and minimizing the occurrence of mechanical parts faults, particularly in the engine. These savings are attributed to the variation in the electromechanical process and the combustion ratio in the CNG-powered engine compared to the fossil fuel-powered engine; which is associated with chemical deposits that tend to curtail the lifespan of the engine compared to the CNG as it does not result in any chemical deposits, thus increases the prescribed lifetime of the engine," continued Al Madani.

He also indicated that conserving the environment is a religious and a national duty of every citizen and resident of this giving country. It is therefore incumbent on all of us to commit every effort towards realizing this objective in order to ensure the optimal utilization of resources that God has gifted to us and harness them to serve the public interest.

The RTA is considered one of the pioneering government entities when it comes to supporting initiatives concerned with the conservation of the environment and renewable resources. In fact the environmental sustainability is one of the strategic goals adopted and cherished by the RTA.