Emirates Transport (ET), a UAE government entity for organising and managing transport and maintenance services, has launched the first compressed natural gas (CNG) operated forklift in the UAE. The move comes within the Corporation’s efforts to develop its business investments in line with the country’s green development aspirations.
Eng. Amer Ali Al Harmoudi, executive director of Auto Services at Emirates Transport, said that the project will achieve a quantum leap with regards to the use of CNG to power industrial vehicles and machinery, as the project has significant environmental and economic benefits.
Al Harmoudi said that the modified forklift enables the use of CNG instead of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) which will significantly reduce Carbon emissions by up to 25%, this is addition to huge reductions in petrol costs of up to 80%.
He added that the use of CNG also increases the operational life of the forklift engine and reduces its operating temperature which, in turn, will also reduce the required periodic maintenance and oil changes for the engine, pointing out that CNG is one of the cleanest and safest fuels, compared with the traditional energy sources.
The executive director of the Auto Services Division stated that the forklift modification process was carried out by expert technical cadre from Al Etihad Centre, a subsidiary of ET which specializes in the modification of vehicles to operate on compressed natural gas.
Since its inauguration in 2010, Al Etihad Centre has succeeded in modifying more than 9,220 vehicles of various types to operate on CNG, including saloons, 4x4s and buses.
The Centre’s list of clients include the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Climate Change and the Environment, the Municipality of Abu Dhabi, DP World, the Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority and a number of Dubai Driving Schools.
Source: Emirates Transport
