HCM City promotes clean buses

Ho Chi Minh Citys Peoples Committee has proposed to Vietnams Finance Ministry to exempt compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered buses from import tax to encourage greener public transport. The city has authorized a pilot program by Sai Gon Transportation Mechanical Corp. and the Sai Con Bus Joint Stock Co. They plan to run 20 CNG buses by the end of the year. A CNG-powered bus costs three times the price of a comparable diesel-fuelled bus, about 3 billion VND (US$153,925). “CNG fuel costs about 50%  less than gasoline or diesel oil while emitting 60% less carbon dioxide than other kinds of fuels,” said the Department’s Deputy Director Duong Hong Thanh. (August 23, 2010)