Abras to be powered with green energy

Dubai: Traditional boats or abras may soon run on compressed natural gas and solar power to make them environment friendly.

Initially three out of 149 abras currently running on diesel will be converted into compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered vehicles as part of a pilot project.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) yesterday signed an agreement with Emirates Gas, a subsidiary of Emirates National Oil Co. Ltd (Enoc).

Solar efforts

According to the agreement, Emirates Gas will finance a Dh500,000 project to convert engines of three abras into engines run on CNG within the next six months.

"We will convert other abras if the pilot project proves successful," said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of RTA.

"We are also working on the project to have solar-powered abras in addition to CNG abras," said Eisa Al Dossari, CEO of Marine Transport Agency. He said a solar-powered abra was tried earlier but it could not achieve the required speed.

Al Tayer had told reporters that operating abra on CNG has multiple benefits. "It is expected to reduce fuelling cost by 30 per cent and reduce pollution level resulting from the diesel-operated engines of abras by 66 per cent."

He said RTA's Marine Transport Agency has started the Phase 1 of the comprehensive public water transport plan for Dubai Creek.

RTA will run 10 water-buses with capacity of 35 passengers each from July. It will also run six ferries with capacity of 120 passengers each from next year.

CNG cylinders will be filled at a temporary station at abra berthing sites.

Gas-run public buses and taxis soon

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority would consider running public buses and taxis on compressed natural gas if it is made available in the emirate.

"We would be happy to run public transport buses and taxis on [compressed natural gas] CNG because it would be environment friendly and help reduce our operational cost," said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

He said that there are no CNG stations in the emirate at present.

Hussain Sultan, Chief Executive Officer of Enoc Group said the Emirates Gas is working on a plan to introduce CNG for all vehicles.

"Sharjah and Abu Dhabi have already introduced the CNG stations at a limited level and have also converted some vehicles to CNG. We are also working on the plan," he said. However, he did not say when the CNG project for vehicles would be launched.