By ELLSON A. QUISMORIO
April 8, 2011, 5:37pm
MANILA, Philippines -- Admitting it does not see oil prices dropping soon, the Department of Energy (DoE) said it will now push for a shift to alternative fuels, particularly in converting diesel and gasoline-fuelled vehicles.
The DoE said it is finalizing its Fueling Sustainable Transport Program (FSTP), which will serve as the key component in its “Alternative Fuels Roadmap.”
Currently being drafted by the agency’s Energy Utilization Management Bureau, the roadmap will serve as the fundamental policy framework on diversifying fuels for transport use in the Philippines.
Under the FSTP, the DoE will convert private and public utility vehicles running on conventional fuel so they can switch to compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and even electricity.
“It is a timely opportunity for the country to shift to alternative fuels. Alternative fuels have become a cost-effective option. Since these alternative fuels are cheaper, we will be able to confront the dynamics of oil price volatility,” the DoE said in a statement.
Through the FTSP, the government hopes to reduce the carbon footprint of road transport which accounts for around half of the total air pollutants in the country.
“Furthermore, these alternative resources are cleaner than conventional diesel and gasoline and thus significantly help in reducing our carbon footprint,” the agency noted.
The raging conflicts in Northern Africa and the Middle East, China’s increasing fuel consumption, the improving US economy and uncertainties in demand for the rehabilitation efforts in tsunami-ravaged Japan were some of the factors noted by DoE in forecasting the continued surge in pump prices.
The DoE said its roadmap is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). With it, the FTSP is advancing the pilot phase of the electric tricycle program, even as the department eyes the launch of pilot run of electric and LPG jeeps by the end of the year.
According to the DoE, demonstration runs of electric buses and cars will
No comments:
Post a Comment