Gas fuels petrol changes

THE start of 2004 saw a new era in Namibia’s automotive history as the first ever conversions of petroleum driven vehicles to dual-fuel driven automobiles in Namibia were carried out by SADT-Autogas (Namibia) Pty. Ltd in mid-January.

The conversions are being carried out at their premises at 100 Danzig Street in the Lafrenz Industrial Area. The company heads an ambitious programme to introduce LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) as an alternative fuel source for Namibian road users.LPG is nothing new to the world and duel-fuel conversions are well established in countries as diverse as Germany, England, France and Australia as well as in Thailand, Korea, Hong Kong and South America.According to Antonio Mendonca, managing director of SADT-Autogas, a Namibian-owned company, it has been busy for almost two years laying the groundwork for this “transfer of technology” development.To oversee the budding new industry, the Automotive Alternative Fuels Registrations Board of Namibia (AAFRB) has been established last year.The gas is to cost N$2,50 per litre according to Mendonca, but this price may soon increase to N$2,90 in order to recoup some initial costs.Already, Mendonca says, some 4000 vehicles are to be converted for clients as diverse as the Ministry of Defence, the Windhoek City Council and the Namibian Police.Converted vehicles will be fitted with special number plates, said Mendonca.These compliance number plates, backed by the Ministry of Works and Transport, help to identify converted vehicles and also help to ensure that conversions are carried out by qualified, licensed installers registered with the AAFRB.He explained the benefits of using LPG in conjunction with normal petrol are many and include a 40 per cent saving in fuel costs for motorists.Also cleaner burning of fuel in motor vehicle engines and less emissions make the alternative fuel more environmentally friendly.Combustion is improved, maintenance costs reduced, longer engine life, quieter engines are other benefits, he said.Mendonca is a born Namibian who finished school in Gibeon.He went into exile in 1986 and found himself in Australia where he did a bachelor of law degree and a master’s in finance.Ever since he has been involved in various projects all over the world before returning to Namibia in 1999.His partner and daughter are still in Australia, said Mendonca.Now he and the five other stakeholders in the company (one is a permanent secretary and another is an under-secretary in the Government), as well as the staff who number about ten, stand on the brink of seeing their hard work come to fruition.Eventually the company aims to employ about 2500 people all over Namibia, he said.To this point the company has secured permission from the Ministry of Mines and Energy to go ahead with the project on May 3.Namcor is the parastatal which holds a 50 per cent mandate to bring fuel into the country and Autogas (Namibia) is still in the process of finalising negotiations with them, said Mendonca.The Ministry of Trade and Industry as well as the Ministry of Environment and Tourism both support the project, Mendonca said.The use of LPG is in line with the United Nations Framework on Conversion of Climate Change, he added.Also the UNDP has expressed interest in helping spread education and information about the fuel alternative in the interests of saving the environment.LPG includes Propane and Butane, which can be stored or transported separately or as a mixture.Although usually stored and transported as a liquid these chemicals exist as gases at normal room temperature and atmospheric pressure.According to e-ipg.com, LPG comes from two sources.It can be refined from crude oil or it can be extracted from natural gas from underground reservoirs.Only about 40 per cent of the world’s LPG is extracted from crude oil while the rest is from natural gas reservoirs.LPG is colourless and odourless.Suppliers commonly add a smell prior to supply to help users detect leaks, according to the specialised Internet site.The LPG to be used in Namibia is sourced from South Africa at the moment but eventually it should come from Namibia’s own Kudu Gas development, he explained.The gas, in liquid form, is stored in specialised tanks from which it can be tapped directly into the storage tanks converted vehicles are fitted with.The conversion of vehicles, which involves the fitting of about six new parts, including the 72 litre gas fuel tanks, costs N$6500 per installation, he said.Tanks can be custom made, Mendonca said.The tanks are made from 4 mm steel and can withstand 3 tonne direct impact.According to Mendonca, these tanks are ten times stronger than metal or plastic petrol tanks and with their pressure gauge release valves, increase general safety.Also, he noted, LPG is not flammable in liquid form.The installation process takes about a half a day to complete.Once installed, the vehicle is fitted with a switch on the dashboard with which the driver can switch the engine from using conventional fuel to LPG at his or her convenience.This feature helps greatly in places where LPG is not yet available, Mendonca said.The company aims to service two types of clients: being commercial and retail clients.Commercial clients will typically have their own storage tanks on site, as is the case with the Windhoek City Council, said Mendonca.Also cars can currently fill up with gas at the company headquarters in Windhoek.Another site for a filling station is being prepared in Windhoek’s Eros suburb across from the existing BP service station, said Mendonca.He explained that more tanks have been ordered from the manufacturer COPRIM in Italy, which are to arrive in February.Retail clients will be mostly local service stations where Autogas plans to install tanks and pumps to be operated by the service station in exchange for a commission on gas sold.Agents will also work for the company but these will have their own tanks and may do their own conversions with the support of Autogas (Namibia).The company heads an ambitious programme to introduce LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) as an alternative fuel source for Namibian road users.LPG is nothing new to the world and duel-fuel conversions are well established in countries as diverse as Germany, England, France and Australia as well as in Thailand, Korea, Hong Kong and South America.According to Antonio Mendonca, managing director of SADT-Autogas, a Namibian-owned company, it has been busy for almost two years laying the groundwork for this “transfer of technology” development. To oversee the budding new industry, the Automotive Alternative Fuels Registrations Board of Namibia (AAFRB) has been established last year.The gas is to cost N$2,50 per litre according to Mendonca, but this price may soon increase to N$2,90 in order to recoup some initial costs. Already, Mendonca says, some 4000 vehicles are to be converted for clients as diverse as the Ministry of Defence, the Windhoek City Council and the Namibian Police. Converted vehicles will be fitted with special number plates, said Mendonca. These compliance number plates, backed by the Ministry of Works and Transport, help to identify converted vehicles and also help to ensure that conversions are carried out by qualified, licensed installers registered with the AAFRB.He explained the benefits of using LPG in conjunction with normal petrol are many and include a 40 per cent saving in fuel costs for motorists. Also cleaner burning of fuel in motor vehicle engines and less emissions make the alternative fuel more environmentally friendly. Combustion is improved, maintenance costs reduced, longer engine life, quieter engines are other benefits, he said.Mendonca is a born Namibian who finished school in Gibeon. He went into exile in 1986 and found himself in Australia where he did a bachelor of law degree and a master’s in finance. Ever since he has been involved in various projects all over the world before returning to Namibia in 1999. His partner and daughter are still in Australia, said Mendonca.Now he and the five other stakeholders in the company (one is a permanent secretary
and another is an under-secretary in the Government), as well as the staff who number about ten, stand on the brink of seeing their hard work come to fruition. Eventually the company aims to employ about 2500 people all over Namibia, he said.To this point the company has secured permission from the Ministry of Mines and Energy to go ahead with the project on May 3. Namcor is the parastatal which holds a 50 per cent mandate to bring fuel into the country and Autogas (Namibia) is still in the process of finalising negotiations with them, said Mendonca.The Ministry of Trade and Industry as well as the Ministry of Environment and Tourism both support the project, Mendonca said. The use of LPG is in line with the United Nations Framework on Conversion of Climate Change, he added. Also the UNDP has expressed interest in helping spread education and information about the fuel alternative in the interests of saving the environment.LPG includes Propane and Butane, which can be stored or transported separately or as a mixture. Although usually stored and transported as a liquid these chemicals exist as gases at normal room temperature and atmospheric pressure. According to e-ipg.com, LPG comes from two sources. It can be refined from crude oil or it can be extracted from natural gas from underground reservoirs. Only about 40 per cent of the world’s LPG is extracted from crude oil while the rest is from natural gas reservoirs. LPG is colourless and odourless. Suppliers commonly add a smell prior to supply to help users detect leaks, according to the specialised Internet site. The LPG to be used in Namibia is sourced from South Africa at the moment but eventually it should come from Namibia’s own Kudu Gas development, he explained. The gas, in liquid form, is stored in specialised tanks from which it can be tapped directly into the storage tanks converted vehicles are fitted with. The conversion of vehicles, which involves the fitting of about six new parts, including the 72 litre gas fuel tanks, costs N$6500 per installation, he said. Tanks can be custom made, Mendonca said. The tanks are made from 4 mm steel and can withstand 3 tonne direct impact. According to Mendonca, these tanks are ten times stronger than metal or plastic petrol tanks and with their pressure gauge release valves, increase general safety. Also, he noted, LPG is not flammable in liquid form. The installation process takes about a half a day to complete.Once installed, the vehicle is fitted with a switch on the dashboard with which the driver can switch the engine from using conventional fuel to LPG at his or her convenience. This feature helps greatly in places where LPG is not yet available, Mendonca said. The company aims to service two types of clients: being commercial and retail clients. Commercial clients will typically have their own storage tanks on site, as is the case with the Windhoek City Council, said Mendonca. Also cars can currently fill up with gas at the company headquarters in Windhoek. Another site for a filling station is being prepared in Windhoek’s Eros suburb across from the existing BP service station, said Mendonca. He explained that more tanks have been ordered from the manufacturer COPRIM in Italy, which are to arrive in February. Retail clients will be mostly local service stations where Autogas plans to install tanks and pumps to be operated by the service station in exchange for a commission on gas sold. Agents will also work for the company but these will have their own tanks and may do their own conversions with the support of Autogas (Namibia).