Natural Gas Vehicle Readily Available Now

 

Dr Xander started off by giving a brief history of NGV in Malaysia, which is coming to 8 years now. As most of the installation is being done on old vehicles, it was never problem free for cars in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. A car converted to NGV will have a minimum savings of 60% in fuel cost. The speaker pointed out that the correct term to use for the fuel is CNG (Compresses Natural Gas) whish is stored at a pressure of 2400 – 3600 PSI or 200 – 300 BAR. Prior to this, natural gas were normally burnt away in the oil rig but it was soon found out that burning it would cause green house gas, and now it was harvested for NGV use. 

Malaysia have the mostly rig that is gas based, this was due to most of our petroleum was formed by vegetation (jungles rather than animals). Now, 85% of the CNG produced here were used by IPP, 10% by commercial users and ONLY 8% by consumer. The congestions at the NGV stations are only noticed at 12 noon when taxi changes shift. At this point of time, there is only a total of 45K NGV, of which 8K is private users. This sector is increasing by 1K every month after the oil increase.

The main problem for NGV is the backyard installer. 

Even good components imported mainly from Argentina and Italy would need to obtain SIRIM approval, which in turn costs 100K. So many illegal importer skipped this process and cheats customer not to register with JPJ, who would check for SIRIM certification. On the other hand, CNG cylinder used to store the fuel must have DOSH approval but most backyard installer does not care, as these overnight self-learned installers do not knows what is the standard required. There are 4 good china maker and 8 problem ones.

Recently NTV7 has aired a show that Sarawak people use cooking gas (LPG) to be installed into cars – this is a criminal offence in Europe. It is important to note that LPG tank is not CNG tank. Any car installed with LPG can explode in front of us. Dr Thong has pointed out that CNG would not ignite even if a match as their ignition point is 593 oC, while LPG will spark at anything.

The reckless practise of backyard installers has not impaired the image of NGV but also MADE A LOT OF ILLEGAL CARS by asking their customers not to register with JPJ by tempting them to still get the RM625 subsidy which NGV do not enjoy – the car owner would be held liable because of negligence if an accident was caused by this NGV conversion. Car owners should be warned of bad installer that is just to make money, taking advantage of this transition period while there is no regulation in NGV installation yet.

The history of NGV in Malaysia is coming to 8 years now.

As most of the installation is being done on old vehicles, it was never problem free for cars in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. A car converted to NGV will have a minimum savings of 60% in fuel cost.

In fact, the correct term to use for the fuel is CNG (Compresses Natural Gas) whish is stored at a pressure of 2400 – 3600 PSI or 200 – 300 BAR. Prior to this, natural gas were normally burnt away in the oil rig but it was soon found out that burning it would cause green house gas, and now it was harvested for NGV use. 

Malaysia have the mostly rig that is gas based, this was due to most of our petroleum was formed by vegetation (jungles rather than animals). Now, 85% of the CNG produced here were used by IPP, 10% by commercial users and ONLY 8% by consumer. The congestions at the NGV stations are only noticed at 12 noon when taxi changes shift. At this point of time, there is only a total of 45K NGV, of which 8K is private users. This sector is increasing by 1K every month after the oil increase.

 

The main problem for NGV is the backyard installer. 

 

Even good components imported mainly from Argentina and Italy would need to obtain SIRIM approval, which in turn costs 100K. So many illegal importer skipped this process and cheats customer not to register with JPJ, who would check for SIRIM certification. On the other hand, CNG cylinder used to store the fuel must have DOSH approval but most backyard installer does not care, as these overnight self-learned installers do not knows what is the standard required. There are 4 good china maker and 8 problem ones.

Recently NTV7 has aired a show that Sarawak people use cooking gas (LPG) to be installed into cars – this is a criminal offence in Europe. It is important to note that LPG tank is not CNG tank. Any car installed with LPG can explode in front of us. Dr Thong has pointed out that CNG would not ignite even if a match as their ignition point is 593 oC, while LPG will spark at anything.

The reckless practise of backyard installers has not impaired the image of NGV but also MADE A LOT OF ILLEGAL CARS by asking their customers not to register with JPJ by tempting them to still get the RM625 subsidy which NGV do not enjoy – the car owner would be held liable because of negligence if an accident was caused by this NGV conversion.

Car owners should be warned of bad installer that is just to make money, taking advantage of this transition period while there is no regulation in NGV installation yet.

 

The way forward – hope in our hands

It’s the same calm Gummersbach winter outside my window and now I’m supposed to say good bye. However, there is no doubt in my mind that it’s worth it to come here. The world is not the same like it used to be, many things are advanced, so are the conflicts. We all need to do our part, to be a responsible resident on earth. A seed was sown in Malaysia and it’s my responsibility to make sure it grows.

Plans to replicate the training and many mini-workshops on (localized) conflict management is already stirring my mind; and much more work need to be done in my country. I am glad I came, as it is a very different Chinese New Year for me, for it truly brings hope, and it is all in our hands.

 

Last 2 days

At the last 2 days of the seminar we were all good friends, while all learnings were put together when regional groups were formed to exemplary international conflicts in their respective region. Everything seems to fit nicely together like the pieces of puzzle when members debated on the approaches and exchanged views on the practical considerations.

It was like second nature to the group, especially in the presentation and discussion of work group results, which compared and evaluated the three presented conflict management approaches for conflict in the 4 different region.

 

Army camp

Before returning to Gummersbach on 20th, we visited the Army camp of Heeresfliegerregiment 15 Rheine-Bentlage for a final talk on Practical Experience of Out of Area Missions, which gave us a clear picture on the day-to-day issues faced by a peace keeping troop. These visits were really good to bring in the practical aspect of conflict management.

 

Peace Research

On the 19th, the group went for a presentation by The Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy on their areas of research at the Institut für Friedensforschung und Sicherheitspolitik (ISFH) before departing to the Command and Staff College of the German Armed Forces (Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr ), which has enlightened us with many insights on UN peacekeeping mission components from a very practical prospective. We get to compare the different considerations in every level of implementation of a conflict management effort.

 

The journey of friendship

The next morning, we departed to Hamburg, a 5 hour trip to the city with the most millionaire in Europe and was brought to a guided sightseeing tour of Hamburg on 18th Feb, going from its history to the ambitious futuristic plan of Hafen City.

If the happenings in this city was not enough to keep us in awe, there was a boat trip around this 2nd largest harbour in Europe to see the amazing amount of containers that moved through from, and into the world. The port city reminded me of the Chinese saying, “Friends from the 4 seas” where new friends were made, just like this international group of us.

 

Instruments of conflict management

On the Valentine’s day, the group gone through intense discussion on selected levels and instruments of conflict management. Practical means and tools to be used to achieve Conflict resolution and transformation were examined: Mediation and arbitration techniques, Structural reform and peace efforts, Transforming cultural conflict and NGO activities.

The discussion carried over to the day to look into the political aspect of conflict transformation. Then, we have opportunity to be exposed to the local cultural on the visit to carnival activities in Gummersbach. Malaysia and Thailand was honored with medals for being the furthest country to come on this seminar.

 

Intro to Conflict Management

As the solution to the conflicts around the world, second day of the seminar explored different approaches of Conflict management: conflict settlement, conflict resolution and conflict transformation. Many participants contributed in the group work and stimulated more thoughts on the theories discussed. Later, a presentation on the works of The Centre for international Conversion (BICC), Bonn which gave a good illustration of how practical conflict management work is carried out.

 

The enlightenment – new world order

At morning of 12 February, 24 participants, facilitators and the director of Theodor-Heuss-Academy, Gummersbach went through a round of brief background introduction. As a representative of Young Malaysians Movement (YMM), I have the honor to introduce our voluntary youth work to participants coming from 19 countries i.e. ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, EGYPT, GEORGIA, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, ISRAEL, KIRGYZSTAN, LEBANON, MALAYSIA, PAKISTAN, PALESTINE, Republic of ARMENIA, SERBIA, SRI LANKA, THAILAND, TURKEY, UKRAINE, VENEZUELA.

The group then provided inputs in a survey on most important conflicts since 1990 in their personal perception before the presentation on “Trends and causes of international conflicts” – the Conflict Barometer by Heidelberg Institute on International Conflict Research. The barometer did not paint a optimistic picture by pointing out that the post cold war world was set in a trend of increased conflict. The participants later broke into small groups by region to examine in-depth on the result of the barometer and gave high remarks on this tool. For me, I have noted that Malaysia is on the watch list rated Level 2 for a prolonged latent conflict that needed solving.

The day ended after the Rwanda Video “Forsaken Cries: the Story of Rwanda” by Amnesty International USA, which examined the 1994 genocide in Rwanda as a case study in the human rights challenges of the 21st century. It was interesting to find out how similar tactics like dehumanizing & stereotyping were used in conflicts in other parts of the world, which could, as shown in the documentary, cause another tragedy like this.

 

First Gummersbach Night

“It’s cold out there,” I mumbled in my heart when looking out at the calm winter scene of Gummersbach. I am still struggling in my heart whether it is worth it to take off from my tight job schedule and sacrifice the Chinese New Year Celebration back home to come for a seminar?

However, I haven’t forgotten the reason I putted in my motivation letter: to find a tool to prevent the increasing conflict level in my country. I must not go home empty handed.