Motorists eye natural gas as petrol prices surge
DAR ES SALAAM: MOTORISTS are increasingly considering a switch to natural gas as a more cost-effective option, given that petrol prices are rising almost monthly.
Motorists are considering switching to natural gas following yesterday’s fuel price increase, the fifth rise since the beginning of the year.
The Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) new price cap for petrol in Dar es Salaam went up by 0.65 per cent to 3,231/- per litre for this month up from 3,210/-last month while diesel increased 0.51 per cent to 3,131/- per litre compared to 3,115/- per litre.
A Dar es Salaam motorist, Mr Emmanuel Komu, said the cost of petrol is increasing becoming unbearable hence pondering moving to natural gas which is not only cheap but also environmentally friendly.
“The future seems to be shifting towards natural gas to cut running costs, as petrol prices continue to rise every month,” Mr Komu told Daily News yesterday.
Petrol prices started the year at 3,084/-. They surged to a record high of 3,314/- in May, then fell to 3,261/- in June and 3,210/- last month. However, they have risen again to 3,231/- this month.
Mr Komu said he currently spends an average of 69,000/- per day on petrol for his car. However, he estimates that switching to natural gas could make his daily expenses enough to cover his monthly fuel needs.
“I know switching cost will be high but after that I will save substantially,” Mr Komu said.
Other motorist, Mr Rashid Mfaume, who converted his taxi to gas said he is only using 43,200/- per week for running his car on natural gas instead of 108,000/- for petrol.
“My revenues have considerably increased using gas from petrol,” he said.
Mr Bakari Temu, a Samora Avenue taxi driver, said the rise of petroleum products forced him to convert his car to natural gas.
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“In the beginning, I was hesitant, but now I feel I have no choice but to switch. My income is insufficient, and I’m unable to meet my goals. I hoped prices would decrease, but they keep rising and the cost of living is also increasing while fares remain the same,” Mr Temu said.
The Dar es Salaam resident, a CNG user, Maulid Ahmed said the cost to convert her 1.9 litre engine was 2.0m/- but she was not regretting it.
She said that before changing into natural gas she spent 50,000/- per week to and from office but now she spends only 17,000/-.
However, motorists using natural gas face the challenge of waiting two to three hours to refill.
Dar es Salaam currently has only three natural gas stations to serve approximately 5,000 cars.
EWURA’s latest cap prices showed that the price of petrol in Tanga increased to 3,229/- per litre from 3,210/-, while diesel prices rose to 3,138/- from 3,124/-.
Motorists in Kyerwa District in Kagera Region will have to dig deeper this month as they will pay 3,469/- per litre for petrol compared to 3,448/- last month while the diesel price increased to 3,369/- per litre compared to 3,353/-.
