Laugfs Chief calls for tariff concessions at Asia seminar in S’pore

In a bid to increase LPG consumption Laugfs Gas is urging the government to give incentives to users so that LPG usage benefits will be better known.  

Laugfs Gas Chairman W. K. H. Wegapitiya addressing the “Asia Auto Gas Workshop” in Singapore suggested tariff concessions for LPG related equipment including incentives to motorists who have converted to LPG, tax concessions for dedicated LPG vehicles and exempt the LPG driven vehicles from mandatory requirements to obtain annual emission testing certificates, and also to introduce a new type of number plate for LPG driven vehicles.

 Wegapitiya was recently invited to make a presentation on “Sri Lankan success story in LPG business”  A much publicised event in the global Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) circles, the “Asia Auto Gas Workshop” this year was held on 8 November 2010 at the Marina Mandiran in Singapore on the initiative of the World LP Gas Association (WLPGA) headquartered in Paris and the organisers had invited Wegapitiya from Sri-Lanka to address this prestigious forum to share his experience in the LP Gas industry in the country.

This event was organised and designed with a view to re-energise the auto gas usage in the region. The WLPGA is the authoritative global voice for LPG. It promotes the use of LPG worldwide to help and foster a cleaner, healthier and more prosperous world. WLPGA key activity is to educate and raise awareness of the LPG industry at an international level and to work together with all stakeholders worldwide.

Wegapitiya was invited to speak, as one of the key personnel in the industry and especially in the backdrop of his pioneering efforts in the auto LPG industry in the country. He was speaking at the forum on “Sri Lanka’s experience in LP Gas” and the objective of the workshop was to highlight the case studies of success stories in South Korea, Japan, India, Australia, Philippines, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Wegapitiya in his presentation touched upon various issues relating to the industry in Sri Lanka including Sri Lanka’s auto gas experience, an industry in which he alone pioneered, nearly one and a half decades ago. His presentation to the forum covered the aspects of the exciting journey undertaken in launching a new industry as a pioneering effort, the numerous challenges faced, to overcome certain myths and negative perceptions and lack of basic infrastructure. He went on to add as to how he took up the challenges in addressing the constraints and built up an industry having installed the infrastructure, obtained world class reputed technology, formed an industry association with vital global links.

 He elaborated at the forum the necessity of the State to intervene as a facilitator and to engage in a regulatory mechanism in the industry whilst encouraging the use of this source of energy due to its features of clean burning and low carbon advantage.

He stated that even in the industrial context, it would far exceed Kyoto greenhouse gas reduction targets. He emphasised that LPG produces lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional energy supplies in every aspect it is used, from stationery applications such as water heating, space heating, cooking and industrial boilers as well as transportation facilities. The workshop had several interesting presentations under the theme “Models that work for Asia” by the participants from the countries such as India, Philippines, and Bangladesh.