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Eco-friendly bus: Travel green!

In a bid to encourage sustainable public transport, the RTA has launched the ‘Green Bus’ in cooperation with SS Lootah Group. The initiative aims at experimenting with the use of environment-friendly bio-fuel technology (Bio Diesel).

The project is also run in coordination with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The initiative was announced at a press conference held at the RTA Head Office and was attended by officials from the RTA, SS Lootah Group, and delegates from the UNEP.

Abdul Mohsen Ibrahim Younes, CEO of RTA’s Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector said: “Such a move aims at promoting environmental sustainability, preserving public health, and striking a balance between the traditional sources of fuel and energy, in addition to raising the profile of the UAE in general and Dubai in particular in a clean and green environment, and sustainable development at the regional and global levels.”

He noted that as the RTA has always been keen on sustaining the environment and public health, it elected to power its public buses with the best and most environment-friendly fuel, which only had 50 ppm of sulfur content (50 parts per million sulphur diesel), while other trucks and buses use diesel containing 500 ppm of sulfur contents.

“This means that the waste left by the diesel used in the public transport agency buses is almost negligible compared to the diesel used by other buses and trucks operating in the UAE,” he explained.

In addition to the use of bio-fuels in powering buses, renewable energy will also be used for lighting purposes. Recyclable materials will be used in different parts of the bus such as the floor and seat cover, and the exterior of the bus has been modified in line with the promotional campaign accompanying the initiative.

Yousef Saeed Lootah, CEO of SS Lootah International said: “This trend is now widely perceived as a necessary measure to reduce global warming, conserve natural resources, and recycle waste by transforming it into environment-friendly bio-fuel.”

Marie Daher Corthay Information and Outreach Officer of the UNEP - West Asia Office, also boosted the engagement of the UNEP in the launch of this initiative through promoting the awareness of the Western Asia region of the potential and the effective use of sustainable transport means, solar energy and bio-diesel.

The ‘Green Bus’ initiative also comes in the context of the Dubai Government Strategy 2015 for sustainable development, and is in line with the strategic objectives of the RTA to achieve environmental and financial sustainability.— news@khaleejtimes.com