Perum PPD to operate more gas-fueled buses

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)