Conference aims to fuel interest in new energy technologies CAIRO: Imagine pulling up to the pumps and paying 60 percent less than you normally would for a tank of gasoline. Now imagine a country with clearer skies and more money to build schools, hospitals and roads. Sound like a fairy tale? Not according to the many scientists, businessmen and engineers who are in town to take part in the International Association for Natural Gas Vehicles Conference, which is being held at the Cairo International Conference Centre this week. The conference starts today and runs until Nov. 9. Globally, use of natural gas engines has increased by about 60 percent, according to a report issues earlier this month by the Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance. And the European Union aims to have 24 million natural gas vehicles on the road by 2020. Egypt is also off to a good start. The country is a leader in Africa and the Middle East, with about 65,432 vehicles and at least 100 buses in Cairo running on natural gas. However, given that the city of Cairo has more than 2,000,000 cars, Egypt should do a lot more to switch from diesel and gasoline to natural gas engines, says to Rodney Semotuik, an energy specialist from Canada who has worked in on natural gas projects in India and Bangladesh. And considering that Egypt has massive reserves of natural gas but still currently relies on crude imports, it would mean that the Egyptian government could save billions, he adds. "If you look at Egypt, I think you're spending close to $4 billion a year for fuel subsidies, and a large percentage of that is going to transportation fuels, says Semotuik, who says that Egypt has a lot in common with other developing nations struggling with rapid population growth, economic development and the need for environmental conservation. That would mean more money for other government projects."Because of the economic growth, you have a middle class with a disposable income who are looking for better products, says Semotuik, pointing to the fact that natural gas is both cheaper and cleaner than diesel and gasoline. However, the switch to natural gas isn't a panacea. Compared to diesel engines, maintenance is costlier and because of the cost of converting engines, many consumers are turned off. Also, with only 99 fueling stations in the country, convenience is also an issue. Nonetheless, for many consumers already driving natural gas cars, the savings are worth it. In fact, according to Semotuik, the average gasoline price in Egypt is about LE 1.3 per liter. A liter of natural gas costs about LE 0.50. "There's quite a difference between the amount of money for diesel or gasoline and natural gas.so there's quite an incentive to do the fuel switching, he says. However, as global emissions standards become increasingly strict, Egypt would do well to make more of an effort to switch, says Semotuik. "It makes good sense.
