RTA inks agreement to operate 3 vehicles on CNG

Dr Yousef Al Ali, CEO of Public Transport Agency, Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), reiterated RTA's firm commitment to actively participate in nurturing a sustainable environment through the implementation of the UAE's Green Development Strategy launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, last January.

To this effect, an Agreement in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Public Transport Agency and the S S Lootah International Group providing for the latter to embark on an experimental operation of three RTA vehicles to power them by compressed natural gas (CNG) such that these vehicles will use hybrid energy i.e. either benzene or gas.

The agreement was signed on behalf of the RTA by Dr. Yousef Al Ali, CEO of Public Transport Agency, and on behalf of the S S Lootah Group by Yousef Saeed Lootah, CEO of the Group, in the presence of directors and officials from both parties.

"The RTA is quite keen to seek the expertise of international businesses in this field in order to carry out the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as regards the implementation of the green economy strategies and sustainable development so that the RTA may effectively contribute to realising the vision of the UAE in this regard and play a prominent role in this field worldwide," stated Al Ali.

He further added: "In keeping with RTA's policy to broaden the reach and revamp the means of sustainable transport through the effective participation and fruitful cooperation with the business community of the UAE in a bid to achieve its strategic objectives and goals, the Public Transport Agency has embarked on joint adventures with a leading company, such as S S Lootah International Group, which has and is still contributing to the economic growth seen by various sectors across the UAE, through strategic initiatives and ambitious plans developed in various commercial, industrial sectors among others.

"This joint project involving the experimental use of CNG to power RTA vehicles is an important national project that promises to have dividends not restricted only to the two parties of the Agreement, but to go further to benefit the public and community organisations as the results of this initiative will bring about benefits to the environment; which in turn will enhance the public health and raise the per capita as well as the Gross National Product.

"Public transit means in general are responsible for as much as 60 per cent of the pollution generated by other sources, however the RTA, and out of its keenness to protect the safety of the environment and public health, opted to power its bus fleet by the best fuel and most environment-friendly fuel worldwide which only contains 50 parts per million (PPM) of sulfur diesel content, whereas other buses and trucks use a fuel that contains 500 ppm of sulfur diesel content.
“This means that the wastes generated by the diesel used by buses of the Public Transport Agency can hardly be compared to the diesel used by other buses and trucks in the UAE," elaborated Dr Al Ali.

The CEO of Public Transport Agency commended S S Lootah International Group and its wide-ranging expertise spanning various sectors and its positive contributions to the drive of development and growth seen by the UAE in general and Dubai in particular.
He particularly paid tribute to its keenness on empowering citizens to join various sectors and divisions of the company as well as training and qualifying them in a variety of fields.

He touched on the first joint project between the Public Transport Agency and S S Lootah International Group; which is the experimental operation of the Green Bus powered by bio-fuel and illuminated by solar-powered LED lamps.

[Image via Shutterstock]

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