DOE warns vs diesel/LPG blend on engines

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Energy on Friday warned the public against using the dual fuel system which utilizes in-line blending of diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in a bid to minimize gasoline costs. The warning was issued by Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes who said that recent tests conducted on engines using a blend of 70 percent diesel and 30 percent LPG were showed that the system might not work. "The results of the tests made by the DOST (Department of Science and Technology) on this system have been proven to be very inconclusive,"Reyes said. "LPG and diesel combination are not proven to be safe," he added. According to Reyes the Department of Energy (DOE) and its partners are eyeing an alternative plan and this would be for the retrofitting of public jeepneys and bus engines from diesel (compression ignition) to spark-ignition engines. This, he said, would allow the 100-percent utilization of alternative fuels such as LPG, compressed natural gas (CNG), and 85 percent bioethanol-blends. Reyes' warning caem after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo - on June 16 - ordered the fuel conversion of jeepneys and buses to LPG and CNG to cushion the impact of skyrocketing fuel prices in the world market. Reyes said he wants the DOE to conduct an appropriate tests prior to the full enforcement of the mixed-fuel technology. He said the guidelines will come from the DOE, in partnership with the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB), DOST, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Trade and Industries (DTI) - Bureau of Product Standards, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) - Bureau of Fire Protection. - GMANews.TV