|
Press
Release
Tenders invited for supplying and installing particulate removal
devices
The Environmental
Protection Department (EPD) today (June 28) published in the Government
Gazette two tender notices for the supply and installation of particulate
removal devices for old heavy diesel vehicles.
Acting Principal
Environmental Protection Officer, Mr Ha Kong, said the retrofit
programme was part of the Government's comprehensive vehicle emission
control strategy to reduce air pollution.
"These devices
must be capable of removing at least 35 per cent of the particulates
from the exhaust of a heavy diesel vehicle used in Hong Kong, and
25 per cent if that vehicle needs to travel to the Mainland, where
diesel of a higher sulphur content is used.
"We want to
install these devices on about 41 000 older heavy diesel vehicles.
These are diesel vehicles weighing more than four tonnes and first-registered
before the Euro diesel vehicle emission standards were first introduced
in April 1995.
"These vehicles
are divided into nine groups according to their engine size and
whether they need to travel to the Mainland.
"Separate tenders
are being invited for each group of the vehicles," Mr Ha noted.
Specifications
required for the devices have been drawn up by an international
expert panel comprising one local and four overseas experts.
Tenderers are
required to submit sufficient information together with their tenders
to prove the efficacy of their devices.
The international
expert panel will evaluate whether a proposed device complies with
the specifications.
"Our targets
are to award the contracts in October and start installation in
December," Mr Ha said.
"Furthermore,
we are also conducting tests on particulate removing devices that
may be able to be used on about 4 000 heavy pre-Euro standard diesel
vehicles that have special operating characteristics involving long-idling
operation, such as crane lorries and concrete mixers.
"We intend to
commence a retrofit programme for these vehicles when suitable devices
are found," he noted.
"Last year,
about 80 per cent of the pre-Euro standard light diesel vehicles
accepted the government subsidy to install particulate removal devices.
"We are now
preparing a legislative proposal to make the installation of such
devices a condition for these pre-Euro standard light diesel vehicles
to get a licence," Mr Ha added.
The deadline
for tender submission is noon on September 6, 2002. Enquiries can
be made by phone at 2594 6422 or fax on 2824 9361.
End/Friday,
June 28, 2002
|
