Capital Equipment News June 2015

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS

JUNE 2015

the pace towards alternative fuel technology.

He explains, “Scania is a Swedish compa-

ny and Stockholm was the first city to be

awarded the title ‘Green Capital of Europe’;

we are therefore immersed in the concept

of sustainability. We are now in the process

of establishing a footprint for Africa and

have embarked on a programme of working

with various governmental bodies to create

an awareness of the benefits of renewable

energy by promoting the use of sustainable

transport in all spheres of our economy”.

He notes that more and more politicians

and businessmen throughout Africa are be-

coming interested in and aware of the need

for sustainability and is encouraged by this

since the continent is “playing catch-up with

the rest of the world and, by focusing on

sustainability at this stage, will be able to

‘leapfrog’ from poor quality diesel straight to

Euro-5 and Euro-6 technology, while provid-

ing a social solution through creating biofuel

from first generation biomas although sec-

ond generation could also be an option.

The drive for sustainability and the lower-

ing of emissions means finding the right

alternatives to fossil fuels. Biofuel promis-

es to provide carbon savings of up to 70 %

and forms the basis of Scania’s entry into

the biofuel technology race in South Africa.

However, sustainable innovation from Scania

does not stop at fuels, engines and trans-

missions. In the transport sector, achieving

objectives means establishing connections

with various governing bodies, which ulti-

mately leads to providing value to customers

and society as a whole.

“Our recent partnership with Unitrans for the

supply of ten Euro-6 CNG buses for trans-

porting workers to and from the mine in Vir-

ginia in the Free State is a significant move

in the right direction and acts as a blueprint

for our sustainability strategy to reduce pol-

lution and running costs locally,” says King.

“Molopo Exploration has the contract for the

supply of the CNG for the project and will be

establishing a filling facility in Bloemfontein

to cater for the requirements of the bus fleet.

This type of facility can be extended to other

areas as the demand for CNG powered fleets

increases,” he adds.

When asked about the engine profiles for the

different fuels, King explains that Scania has

a global engine platform, based on a modu-

lar engine concept, which allows customers

with access to different fuels to opt for en-

gines with outstanding environmental perfor-

mance and fuel efficiency, no matter where

they are. The Scania modular engine solution

has standardised interfaces between com-

ponent series, enabling clients to install solu-

tions with improved performance in engines

that are required to meet different fuel types.

In other words, through the use of compres-

sion and spark ignition technologies, Scania

is able to offer engines suitable for biodiesel,

ethanol, biogas and natural gas.”

To ensure the success of its sustainability

strategy, Scania has the technical leader-

ship with the right power train irrespective

of whether it involves diesel, biofuels or

future electrical solutions. On the product

front, Scania’s main focus in the future will

continue to be on sustainable transport and

alternative fuels.

“We talk about alternative fuels at this stage

but, in the future, it will be diesel that is the

alternative fuel. Sustainability is not an op-

tion – it needs to start now and it is our duty

to make the difference that will ensure that

sustainability works,” concludes King.

CONSTRUCTION

Anthony King, Key Account Manager