"Preparations should be well carried out so that we do not become guinea pigs. The most important thing in regard to gasoline to compressed natural gas (CNG) conversion is safety," Organda's executive board's secretary general, Ardiansyah YP, said here on Thursday.
He also hoped that the public transport system would not have any accidents caused by gasoline-to-CNG conversion kits. As the government hasn`t assured any safety guarantees so far.
Ardiansyah also asked for a significant difference between the prices of subsidized gasoline and CNG. "Unless the disparity is significant enough, no one will want to use CNG," he remarked.
He said that Organda also asked the government to provide enough CNG filling stations, which are few in number now.
Ardiansyah added that public transport must continue serving the public and so its functioning should not be hindered.
"Public transport is mobile and its productivity is very important, so the vehicles should not have to line up at filling stations for too long," he said.
The government plans to promote the use of CNG to reduce subsidized gasoline consumption and requires that public transport follow it.
It has also planned to raise the price of subsidized gasoline as of April 1, to reduce the subsidy following the increasing price of the world crude oil.
(H-YH/INE)
Editor: Ade P Marboen
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
