A locally made LNG tanker and its associated hauler were made public at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Germiston on 29 November. Speaking at the ceremony at the DNG premises in Germiston, the CEO, Aldworth Mbalati, expressed pride in a fully South African unit that was the product of seven years of co-operative effort between DNG and their business partners. The tankers will be used as part of the customer supply chain in DNGs strategy to become the leading LNG supplier in Africa.

The tanker, which can carry 33000 l of LNG at a temperature of -162°C, and the associated LNG transfer rig, was completely manufactured by DNG at their premises in Germiston. The rig allows direct refuelling of hybrid LNG/diesel heavy trucks and can fill a 600 l tank in approximately eight minutes. The hybrid trucks, which are used to haul the tankers, were also developed by DNG together with partners in the heavy transport business.

Mbalati foresees a bright future for LNG in South Africa, and looks forward to the time when filling stations in this country will feature LNG pumps alongside petrol and diesel. He is confident that the tanker and its accessories could be adapted to transport liquefied hydrogen gas when the market for LHG develops at some time in the future and sees LNG as the bridging fuel to green hydrogen. Other sources reckon that the market for LHG will not fully develop for a decade or more, allowing an adequate window for the use of LNG.  

Contact DNG Energy, Phone 010 880-2935, insights@dng.energy