Abu Dhabi Government and Public Transit Fleets Moving to 20% CNG Within 6 Years
26 August 2006
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| United Arab Emirates. Source: EIA |
Gulf News. Within five to six years, 20% of government-owned vehicles and taxis in Abu Dhabi—one of the emirates of the UAE—will be running on compressed natural gas, according to the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD).
A report by the agency identifies taxis, buses and government-owned vehicles, such as municipality and police cars, as the most polluting vehicles in the emirate.
In conjunction with other agencies and oil companies, the agency has drawn up a strategy that will:
Convert 20% of government-owned vehicles and taxis in the emirate to run on CNG by 2012; and
Convert all government diesel vehicles to run on Ultra Low Sulfur Fuel (10ppm) with at least Euro 3 emission limits by 2012;
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has installed a CNG filling station to initiate the introduction of the new vehicle fuel.
A study by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai found that vehicles contribute to 80% of environment pollution in the emirate, followed by factories.
In a bid to reduce the rising pollution levels, the RTA will not renew the registration of cars which are more than 15 years old, as the amount of carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons emitted from old vehicles is higher.
Other alternatives supported by RTA to keep the pollution levels in check include limiting the use of private vehicles and switching to public transport, using natural gas instead of other fuels like petrol and diesel and using equipments like catalytic converters and exhaust filters. Vehicles will be regularly inspected for their pollution levels and international standards will be adopted shortly.
The UAE is a federation of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, and Umm al-Qaiwain. According to Oil and Gas Journal (1/1/06), the UAE’s natural gas reserves of 214.4 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) are the world’s fifth largest after Russia, Iran, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. (US EIA).
Mike,
Most of the oil/gas wealth is concentrated in Abu Dhabi. Dubai (remember Dubai Ports World aquisition of P&O) is running out of exportable oil. The rest have miniscule or no oil/gas reserves left.
Posted by: allen Z | 26 August 2006 at 05:52 PM
All Middle East countries will progressively move all their vehicles on CNG. Not only does it improve air quality, it frees up more oil or oil products to be exported for high prices. Its a no brainer.
Posted by: John Baldwin | 27 August 2006 at 08:27 AM
A bit off topic, but I came across some national lab info on thermo accoustics that shows how you can make LNG pretty easily. FYI
An early prototype produced 140 gallons per day of LNG, and a 500 gallon-per-day prototype is close to completion.
http://www.lanl.gov/mst/engine/
If CNG does not give you the range you want, go to LNG and create it in your garage and keep it liquid on the car with stored battery power for an LNG hybrid.
Posted by: SJC | 27 August 2006 at 08:42 AM
Arab countries know how much Oil they have. So if they have lesser Oil, naturally they are going to move their vehicles to CNG and export the saved Oil.
Even Russins are converting some of their Oil fired power plants to Nat-gas.
Iran has 141,000 CNG vehicles and is in #6 place in the World.
http://www.iangv.org/content/view/17/35/
Its good for the World as well.
Posted by: Max Reid | 27 August 2006 at 06:03 PM
Max Reid,
The Russians are converting from oil to gas to increase efficiency and output, and decrease emissions and costs. Much of the Soviet equipment and enfrastructure is aging and in need of replacement. Thus gas is a natural choice. Besides, they are a Kyoto GHG treaty signer. The more they decrease the GHG/$ or GHG/KwH or GHG/ton output of their economy, the better. Besides, they will earn carbon credits.
Posted by: allen Z | 28 August 2006 at 10:58 AM
Hey ppl why not form a group to discuss the best practises in the CNG field
Posted by: sudhanshu | 15 October 2007 at 01:31 PM