Press Releases

Gov't pushes LPG use in transport

THE DEPARTMENT of Energy (DoE) is working on a policy framework to expand the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), used chiefly for cooking, as a transport fuel, a department official said.

Coming off consultations with industry stakeholders in Cebu City early last month, Director Teresita Borra of the Bureau of Energy Utilization and Management said in an internal memo that one of the items raised at an open forum was a "need to establish a policy framework and identify the specific government agency that will regulate the different components of the autogas program implementation."

These components include registration categories of autogas vehicles as well as safety regulation and certification of vehicle conversion.

Industry stakeholders also raised the need for capacity building, particularly involving government agencies and local government units on the use of LPG as a transport fuel, autogas technology and the various components of the autogas program.

A study of the economic benefits and safety of using autogas for private trucks and vehicles in Cebu City was also suggested.

Energy Undersecretary Peter Anthony Abaya said in an interview that it took around P50,000 to turn a regular taxicab into an autogas-fed cab. Interested operators can avail themselves of financing from the state-owned Development Bank of the Philippines, he said.

Autogas cabs have started to become quite popular in Cebu City. During DoE consultations there, three taxicab terminals were inspected, all of which had a total of 290 autogas-fed cabs.

Emerson Taxi had 47 autogas taxicabs in operation and a Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. dispensing station that had a 2,000 US gallons water capacity LPG tank. Jays Express Taxi had 43 autogas taxis and a Shell dispensing station of the same capacity. RP Corominas Taxi and Corominas Taxi had a combined 200 autogas cabs and Shell and Petron Corp. dispensing stations.

Shell requires a minimum of 40 taxis for the installation of a dispensing pump in the taxi terminal or garage.

According to the DoE's update Philippine Energy Plan, an autogas standard for road vehicles, cylinders and dispensing stations would be developed within the year, in cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry.

Borra recommended that, in drafting the policy framework, the economic differences of taxi operations in various cities be considered, saying that boundary levels, fuel costs and operating hours differed from one city to another.

To be able to include these factors in the policy framework, the DoE will be going around the country to gather inputs from industry stakeholders, particularly in key cities nationwide.

After the Cebu consultation held last July 7, schedules have been set for similar consultations in Metro Manila, Baguio City, Davao City, Cagayan de Oro City and Iloilo City.

In Metro Manila, 108 autogas taxis are now plying the streets and two Petron dispensing pumps are available to provide them with fuel.

Shell is conducting a pilot project with a taxi operator in Cagayan de Oro City on autogas taxi operations.

Baguio City and Davao City have been identified as two of the pilot "Clean Cities'' under the US Agency for International Development's Clean Cities Program, which promotes the use of alternative transport fuels. Iloilo City is a Clean Cities candidate.

Article taken from the Inquirer News Service