City of Tshwane launches South Africa’s first gas-propelled busses
The City Tshwane has launched the first South African busses to run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
The 40 busses make up part of the 114-strong bus fleet that will operate out of the newly launched Belle Ombre Depot and along the Mamelodi A Re Yeng routes, said executive mayor Solly Msimanga.
“Of the 114 bus fleet, 40 run on compressed natural gas (CNG) thus making Tshwane the first city in sub-Saharan Africa to run full CNG propelled busses,” said Msimaga.
“The acquisition of CNG-propelled buses for the A Re Yeng fleet is thus a progressive move towards promoting and achieving a fuel switch within the municipal-owned fleet, and to ensure that the municipality is making a concerted effort to minimise its own carbon footpcrint,” he said.
Msimanga said that the investment will also act as a stimulant for the market and would hopefully lead to a wider uptake of the available technologies.
CNG is made by compressing natural gas which is primarily composed of methane. As a result, it produces fewer undesirable gasses and is safer than other fuels in the event of a spill.
According to Msimanga, the gas is also both naturally abundant and eco-friendly.
The city said that all services, routes, times and fares would remain the same following the launch of the new busses – irrespective of which bus commuters choose to travel on.
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