Petron to put up more LPG stations for taxis

Petron Corp., the country's biggest oil refiner, said on Wednesday it will allocate this year P50.6 million for its autogas program, which supports the government's environmental policies for cleaner fuels. Petron chairman Nicasio Alcantara said the company will put up five more autogas or LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) filling facility until the end of the year. Alcantara said the company will put up facilities near places where taxi fleets are located. "We're providing package for those taxi fleets that wish to convert to autogas," he said. Taxi fleets Basic and Freedom are already using autogas. Some 70 vehicles are running on autogas, with 50 of these belonging to the Emerson Taxi group in Cebu. The Department of Energy is targeting 1,500 autogas plying by the end of the 2013. In 1999, when the Clean Air Act was passed, government encouraged the use of autogas. Autogas were found to emit negligible emissions of toxic carbon monoxide. Conversion to autogas-fit engine may cost about P26,000 to P28,000 per unit. Autogas is the term generally used for LPG for the use of the transport sector. Petron president Khalid Al-Faddagh earlier said the company has been talking with a number of taxi operators for a possible tie-up. "They (operators) are very eager. We are working out a scheme where we can also put an autogas refilling station within the operators' headquarters," he said. Aside from Petron, small oil player Eastern Petroleum Corp. (EPC) is also actively involved in the autogas conversion and filing business. Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. has also started marketing autogas. Shell has committed to put up four dispensing pumps of autogas. - GMANews.TV