Source: www.rta.ae
The number of Green Buses powered by biofuel within the fleet of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has risen to 11 buses under a plan based on the Green Economy initiative launched in January 2012 by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, under the theme: Green Economy for Sustainable Development.
Engineer Omar bin Haider, Director of Maintenance & Services, RTA Public Transport Agency, said: “In 2012 HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the first biofuel-powered bus and we continued with the drive in the light of the analysis which revealed that the experiment has resulted in a drop in the rates of pollution resulting from the combustion of bus fuels (K-Value) from 0.65 to 0.43; which compares well with the highest international practices (K-Value 0.72) in addition to a 34% reduction in carbon emissions, and 7% fall in the cost of fuel. The RTA has got in place a strategic plan to broaden the scope of the experiment to span 60 buses over the next 3 years.
“After 6 months of the experiment, we have generalized the positive results to include 10 other buses and these buses are now up-and-running at a high efficiency on public bus routes. The biofuel is a blend of derivatives of edible oil and the biodiesel to generate an environment-friendly fuel as per the international standards. Currently we use a blend comprising 5% edible oil and 95% diesel,” he explained.
“The Green Bus is of the leading environmental sustainability projects launched by the RTA in cooperation with S. S. Lootah; which is undertaking the environment-friendly biofuel experiment in collaboration with the UNEP which is promoting the initiative aimed at supporting sustainable mass transit means,” continued Bin Haider.
“Following site surveys and local practices in the field, it became evident that the RTA is leading the way nationwide in using biofuel in public transport means; which illustrates our ability to measure up to our social responsibilities through rolling out effective initiatives oriented towards addressing the needs of the local community in nurturing a clean & sustainable environment. More info
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