Perum PPD to operate more gas-fueled buses

JAKARTA (JP): The state-owned public bus company Perum PPD is planning to operate more gas-powered buses to try to reduce pollution in Jakarta.

"The PPD will operate 490 gas-fueled buses by the year 2000," Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto said yesterday at a hearing of the House of Representatives' Commission V for transportation, public works, tourism and telecommunications.

He said the PPD is expected to operate 40 gas-powered buses this year. It is expected to run 100 express buses on gas in 1997, 50 regular buses and 100 regular buses on gas in 1998, 100 regular buses on gas in 1999 and another 100 regular buses on gas in the year 2000.

"There are currently 3,237 gas-fueled vehicles in Jakarta. This number includes 2,934 taxicabs and public transport vans, three buses and 300 privately-owned cars," he said.

He said the government planned to develop more gas-fuel stations: "Currently there are 13 stations that offer gas refueling in the Greater Jakarta area. The number will increase to 25 next year. Some stations which offer gas refueling will also be developed in Medan in North Sumatra, Palembang in South Sumatra, Cirebon and Cikampek in West Java and Surabaya in East Java."

According to Haryanto, there are still some obstacles slowing the growth of gas-fuel usage in the capital.

"There is still a shortage of pipeline networks from the state-owned company, Perum Gas Negara, while proper locations are scarce and expensive. There are also few automotive workshops that offer vehicle fuel conversion," he said, adding that private investors were reluctant to run gas-refueling stations because of the costs involved.

The cost of operating gas-fuel stations is considered expensive because the price of electricity for the stations is higher because they are categorized as industrial businesses, he said.

He also said that fuel conversion for vehicles, costing around Rp 2.4 million (approximately US$1,016), was still considered expensive. (icn)