ตอบ คนที่ 14
PTT seeks cheaper equipment to cut costs: PTT Plc is
looking for cheaper natural gas for vehicle (NGV) kits to replace
the ones imported from Italy which cost 50,000-60,000 baht
per vehicle to install. Executive vice-president Chitrapongse
Kwangsukstith said that the decision to seek NGV kits from
other countries came after PTT held discussions with the Energy
Ministry about encouraging NGV use for the personal transport
sector in addition to taxis and public transport vehicles. He
explained that even though PTT gave a 10,000-baht subsidy for
each vehicle that changed over to NGV use, the cost to install
the kits from Italy was still rather high.
In addition, the production capacity in Italy is insufficient to
cover the expected higher demand, he said. PTT is now
considering to import NGV kits from other countries such as
China, India, South Korea and Argentina where prices are
cheaper and the installation costs would drop to 25,000-30,000
baht per vehicle. Nevertheless, the energy conglomerate still
places safety standards that meet international criteria as the
top priority for the purchase NGV kits.
Dr Chitrapongse pointed out that NGV kits from Argentina
should have no problem meeting the production standards as
the country was the world's largest user of NGV-driven vehicles
with around one million units last year. Originally, PTT wanted
10 designated companies to import the NGV kits and then
supply them to the company.
But as these companies were largely small importers, their
credit standing was too small to import the product, making it
necessary that PTT place the purchase orders. Since the
floatation of diesel prices, many transport operators, who
experienced difficulties in raising service fees, now want to
modify their engines for NGV use. However, the existing supply
of NGV kits is not enough to meet the increased demand. There
is also a shortage of NGV cylinders, which need to be imported
from Italy.
Dr Chitrapongse said PTT would accelerate the planned
expansion of NGV service stations nationwide from 34 currently
to 180 next year, two years ahead of schedule. Most of the
stations will be located along gas pipelines laid by PTT,
stretching from Ratchaburi, Bangkok and its environs, Saraburi,
Chon Buri and Rayong. The move would help encourage NGV
use among vehicle owners, most of whom are concerned about
the availability of NGV service stations and the hefty installation
costs.
Currently, there are only about 6,000 NGV-driven vehicles,
most of which are taxis. This number is expected to increase
fourfold to 24,000 units this year, with a lot of them expected to
be trucks and tour buses owned by goods transport companies.
Dr Chitrapongse also said that to help PTT oil service stations
run by other private companies install the equipment needed to
offer NGV, the company planned to invest 1-2 million baht to
put in NGV nozzles and depots as it realised profit margins from
the sales of NGV would not be high.
Bangkok Post โดยคุณ : ขาวตุ่น
[ 2 ส.ค. 2005 , 11:26:32 น.]
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