Doha - Qatar Fuel (Woqod) is studying the feasibility of offering liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as an alternative vehicle fuel to the public, a senior official of the company said here yesterday.
Woqod, the sole distributor of LPG in Qatar, has partnered with Mowasalat to launch the first LPG-fuelled taxi in Qatar. Speaking to the media at the launch ceremony yesterday, Mark Vidler, Marketing Manager of Woqod, said that the company would consider offering LPG, also called Autogas, as an alternative fuel to the public once the experiment with Mowasalat is found successful.
"Once the trial with Mowasalat has been assessed, Woqod will initially look in to market Autogas to large fleet operators of petrol engines and build dedicated dispensaries for these customers on their premises.
"If market demand is assured through market research, Woqod will consider offering Autogas as an alternative fuel to the public and will ensure that conversions are safely carried out through approved companies. Autogas will then be available from selected Woqod service stations," said Vidler.
The pump price for Autogas will most likely be fixed at QR0.65 per litre, making the fuel cheaper than petrol and diesel today. Woqod will also work with local car agencies and dealers to assess the potential for the import of duel fuel vehicles that are factory built, he added.
"Woqod will now assist Mowasalat in the running of Autogas on a larger number of vehicles to assess the performance improvement and to see if even wider use of Autogas is applicable," he added.
Converting petrol engine vehicles to run on Autogas has been achieved safely on millions of cars globally and today all the major vehicle manufactures produce duel fuel vehicles.
"Conversions need to be carried out carefully and we intend to work with Mowasalat and government bodies, especially Civil Defence, to certify professional companies for these conversions," said Vidler.
"Woqod is investing in more than QR120m in a state-of-the-art LPG bottling and bulk distribution ion centre in the new Industrial Area of Doha. This will be commissioned by the end of 2008. Our plans include the improvement in the current 12kg LPG cylinders available in the market today," he added.
© The Peninsula 2007
