New L.P.G. system

Press, 1 April 1982, Page 4

New L.P.G. system

! PA Wellington ' An innovation in the tran- ! sport of liquefied petroleum gas in New Zealand has been j launched by the Minister of Energy (Mr Birch) at Parliament grounds. The system uses one tractor unit to tow two semitrailers which the manufacturers, Rockgas, Ltd, say will ensure greater handling safety. “The use of two six-tonne trailers, in contrast to the overseas practice of using large single trailers in excess

of 15 tonnes, means that only limited quantities of L.P.G. will be carried at one time by one vehicle,” Mr Birch said. The road train concept means that two trailers can be used on main highways between the depot and outlying towns. For deliveries within the town, one of the trailers can be parked in a contained area then the single tank used for deliveries to customers. The manufacturers say the system provides mini-tanker

r safety with sufficient econ- . omy to keep the product > competitive with alternative i fuels. “The fuel- carried by these I . tankers could mean an , ■ annual saving of over $3O I J million on imported petrol ’ or, in 10 years, the expected I ; life of the vehicles,* more ’ than $3OO million of overseas I ! exchange can be saved,” Mr I ‘ Birch said. ' ; : Six of the tractor units ' have been built, and another • three are under construction, making a total investment of $2 million.