"We are able to produce as many converter kits as needed because the device is not difficult to make," PTDI director of technology and development, Andi Alisjahbana, said on the sidelines of a meeting with a number of state-owned companies (BUMNs) on procurement of liquefied gas for vehicle (LGV) tanks at the Dirgantara Indonesia Building here on Thursday.
State Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan had called the directors of several BUMNs such as PT Barata Indonesia, PT Boma Bisma Indra, PT Dok Perkapalan Surabaya, PT INTI, PT Krakatau Steel, PT Pindad, PT Inka and several other BUMN subsidiaries to the meeting.
Andi said producing BBG (gas for vehicle) tanks and converter kits was not difficult because PTDI had the needed facilities and capability.
"What is important is determining the qualification standards to ensure safety," he said.
He said the tanks must have a gas pressure qualification standard of more than 200 bars or several times the figure for common liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanks.
Andi did not say how many converter kits PTDI would actually produce. "But we are ready. Our focus now is on making a prototype and determine the standard so that it can also be manufactured by other parties," he said.
He said a prototype of the converter kit to be produced by PTDI was now being tested by the Oil and Gas Downstream Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas).
The government plans to implement a program to limit the use of subsidized fuel oils on April 1, 2012 firstly in Jakarta, which will later be carried out in stages across Java and Bali.
Minister Dahlan Iskan expressed full support for PTDI`s plan to produce converter kits.
"Provided it will not disrupt PT DI`s aircraft production program I will give my support. We must avoid imports if we can produce it ourselves," he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
