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Beverage company goes for CNG to cut fuel cost, protect environment

Transporters are switching their attention to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) which is clean and cheap energy to cut vehicle running cost and protecting the environment.

Scania Tanzania delivered another natural gas driven truck to Coca-Cola Kwanza, a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, aiming at lowering emission and strengthen its sustainable transport system.

Speaking at the handover function on Wednesday, Scania Tanzania, Business Development Manager, Ms Eliavera Timoth, said the truck conforms to the cleanest emission norm available, Euro 6, operating on optionally gas or biogas.

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“Our gas engines have been continuously improved through generations, today providing a high torque and performance, as well as improved fuel consumption compared to the currently sold Eu3 diesel,” Ms Timoth said.

Scania made the first gas vehicles in the 1930’s and introduce in the country the first gas truck in July 2021.

Apart from being friendly to the environment, she added, gas is obtained locally more use will create local jobs and help to reduce the foreign currencies demand while creating further tax revenue streams.

“In Tanzania most of the investment is already made, with the gas pipe into Dar es Salaam and the mother station in Ubungo in place. Running on CNG is cheaper,” she insisted.

Driving on gas, according to Scania, reduces cost by 12 per cent per month when operating 85,000 km per year and the locally available natural gas is also 20 per cent less expensive. Also, the price level is more stable compared to the imported diesel.

Coca-Cola Kwanza Logistics Director Mr Haji Ally said that natural gas-powered trucks are not only more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, but also more economical to run.

“Environmental sustainability is more than just another corporate social investment, but a fully integrated part of doing business,” said Mr Ally.

Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) earlier this month announced that a total of nine natural gas filling stations are going to be built in the country within the next 24 months as demand increases.