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Bus operators commit to CNG in Manila |
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Four bus operators have signed a
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Philippines Department of
Energy (DOE), giving a commitment to purchase CNG buses within the
next two months. The commitment paves the way for mother-daughter
refueling infrastructure to be established in Manila. The DOE is the
principal agency for the Philippines Govenrment's NGV Program for
Public Transport (NGVPPT) and has spent almost two years
coordinating stakeholders including fleet operators, gas suppliers,
government licensing agencies, development banks and vehicle
suppliers.
 CNG
Inc will receive preferential treatment from the Land Transportation
Franchising & Regulatory Board (LTFRB) which issues franchise
licenses for operators of public bus routes. The Land Transport Office
will also give priority for the registration and emissions testing of
CNG buses.
 Under
the terms of a separate MOA with the Malampaya Consortium, a group
of upstream gas suppliers who will supply gas and 'mother' refueling
facilities, the DOE is now required to negotiate with downstream
retailers to establish the daughter refueling sites. Discussions
have been ongoing with retailers for some time but without the
commitment from the fleet operators, final refueling requirements
have not been known. Shell Philippines is a likely contender to
operate one or more of the daughter sites.
 DOE
Secretary Vincent Perez has told the media that his Department is
confident that CNG buses will be operating on Manila's roads by the
end of this year, "With this MOA, we are very hopeful that we
will see CNG buses plying our major thoroughfares, a major step
forward in cleaning our air.” Two trial CNG buses, one from Korea
& one from India, have been operating on a demonstration basis
since the beginning of this year.
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A PUBLIC SERVICE OF EXCALIBURCNG HAULING, STORAGE & DISTRIBUTION, INC. |
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