July 2, 2021. The compressed natual gas (CNG) truck introduced by Scania Tanzania Limited is high technology and comes with an Euro 6 engine ideal for the local market and especially for the transportation industry as it is both economic and environmentally friendly.
The Minister for Energy, Dr Medard Kalemani said at the launch of the CNG truck in Dar es Salaam that Scania has shown a strong commitment to the use of natural gas resources.
“Scania as an investor has seen and grabbed the opportunity of making use of the CNG in trucks that will reduce costs and environmental damage,” he said.
He added that it was high time for government institutions to embark on using CNG on vehicles to reduce costs as well as protect the environment. At the same time, he urged the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) to buy CNG system cars as soon as possible as they had already started the process of procurement.
Speaking during the event, Scania Managing Director, Johanna Lind said the truck is the high technology that suits the Tanzania market and especially for the transportation industry as it is both economic and environmentally friendly. She added that natural gas will continue to play an important role in the transport system especially with the infrastructure being consistently increased.
“For the transporters, the use of CNG for trucks is cheaper. For example, our studies show that the cost per month can be reduced by 12 per cent during the first four years of the vehicle when operating at 85 000 km per year,” she said.
The local fuel is more than 20 per cent less expensive and the price level is also more stable compared to the imported fuel. “In parallel, we are working with partners and government for the biogas alternative, where you with the same vehicle and same infrastructure could also rapidly scale up in areas outside of Dar es Salaam,” she noted.
Lind promised that Scania Tanzania will bring more cars that have a CNG system by February next year as part of supporting President Samia’s efforts to attract more investors in Tanzania in various sectors.
