Converting cars to run on natural gas could cut fuel costs
In January 2021, Egypt will launch its first technology exhibition for converting and replacing rickety cars with new ones that run on natural gas — a source of energy that has become plentiful in Egypt due to the latest related discoveries.
The event is expected to be attended by major auto companies that produce natural gas-powered vehicles inside the country, as well as agents and importers of cars with bi-fuel systems — running on gasoline and natural gas, in addition to a number of automotive feeding industry companies.
The announcement was made by the country's Trade and Industry Minister, Niveen Gamae, during a meeting she held on Sunday with 40 chairpersons and representatives of major auto companies, according to a statement released by the trade and industry ministry.
According to Gamae, the exhibition will also be attended by representatives from several banks and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency.
Last week, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi called for the government to organise an “integrated” exhibition for owners of rickety vehicles who wish to take the step and offer them what he described as a " befitting” cash incentive to substitute their cars for natural gas ones.
Minister Gamae said the exhibition will expound on details of the government's plan, foremost of which are the steps to register for the cash incentive programme, as well as means of solving all technical matters that are of concern to vehicles' owners.
The plan is centred on scrapping cars that are over 20 years old — which are altogether powered by gasoline — in favour of new natural gas cars. Owners of new vehicles running on gasoline will also be allowed to shift their engines to bi-fuel powered models.
A total of 322,000 vehicles have been converted to bi-fuel systems since 2014. The government also aims to convert as many as 147,000 gasoline-powered taxis and microbuses to natural gas within three years and replace up to 240,000 diesel-powered microbuses with new natural gas vehicles over the next four years.
Egypt’s strategy aims to reduce fuel imports, decrease pollution from harmful emissions, ensure the safety of drivers and passengers, and tap into unexploited auto factories.
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