Dubai, Aug.25th,2007(WAM)--The Board of Directors of RoadsTransport Authority (RTA), chaired by Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman ofthe Board & Executive Director of the RTA, has endorsed the experimentalproject of transforming operation of two abras to solar energy insteadof diesel.

Khalid Al Zahid, Acting CEO of Marine Agency stated that thisproject is a result of efforts put by the RTA to make use of solar energyin operating abras, as it has considerable economic & environmental benefitsin reducing fuel costs and environmental pollution.

"Marine Agency has approached a number of global businesses regardingtransforming engines of two abras to solar energy. Many offers were receivedand are being assessed to select the best one" said Al Zahid.

He pointed out that solar energy-operated abra engines will contributeto reducing pollution level resulting from abra engines (diesel) by 80%,and fuel cost by 65%. This translates into cutting annual fuel bill fromDh3.69 million for diesel consumption to Dh2.214 million for solar energybatteries. The project will also result in reducing the cost of maintainingengines, which amounts to Dh894 thousands, by 40% per annum, in additionto substantial reduction of harmful gas emissions such as carbon monoxide& dioxide emanating from abra engine exhausts.

Al Zahid further added that solar energy-operated abras are safer thandiesel-operated abra engines. Moreover, their prescribed lifetime is longerand cause no fuel leakage, compared to diesel-operated abras, where fuelleak can cause oil stains.

The Acting CEO of Marine Agency stressed that RTA attaches special importanceto protecting environment and is very keen to make all transport modesenvironment-friendly. He revealed that the agency is collecting randomsamples from abras which cleared the technical test conducted by EmiratesPetroleum Products Co. (EPCO) to ensure compatibility with all technicaltesting standards, particularly the percentage of pollution resultingfrom the exhaust systems of abra engines.

"RTA signed in last May an agreement with Emarat Gas Co. to transformthe engines of three abras such that they will be operated on compressednatural gas instead of diesel. Once this study proves successful, RTAwill consider generalizing application of fueling alternatives to itsvarious marine transport systems" Al Zahid commented.

He explained that abras are vital means of transport between the two banksof Dubai Creek. Statistics reveal that motorized abras transferred lastyear 25.748.259 passengers, served in 1.287.413 trips, posting a growthrate of 22.7% compared to 2005 figures.