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Street cleaning vehicles in Sharjah now run on natural gas
Street sweeping vehicles in Sharjah are now using compressed natural gas in order to promote a healthier environment in the emirate.
- By Mariam M. Al Serkal, Staff Reporter
- Published: 22:52 July 1, 2009
Sharjah: Street sweeping vehicles in Sharjah are now using compressed natural gas in order to promote a healthier environment in the emirate.
"At present, we are supplying the gas to 300 of our vehicles and 20 vehicles that belong to other companies," said Tareq Rashid Deemas, Head of the Directorate of Gas at the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (Sewa).
Compressed natural gas (CNG) is the cleanest burning fuel, requires less vehicle maintenance and supports a longer engine life.
"Through this initiative we hope that it will encourage other companies to take on the responsibility of using environmentally friendly fuel, which will in turn make Sharjah a greener emirate."
CNG is the most suitable alternative to petrol as it does not release carbon dioxide, which in turn prevents further global warming.
He pointed out that Sewa is also planning to convert 85 per cent of its fleet to natural gas vehicles. CNG vehicles produce the fewest emissions of any fuel.
"We have set up the first natural gas station in the region with the intention of eliminating car emissions in the emirate, but this can only be done with the cooperation of all companies, whether private or publicly owned," said Deemas.
Sewa launched the first CNG station in the Halwan area, near the Sharjah Co-operative Society, in 2005 and initially only vehicles of Sewa were fitted with the converters to run on gas.
Converting a petrol engine to gas takes about a day and a half, and one canister lasts for about 140 kilometres.
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