DRX: NGV Growth Inefficiencies (A Malaysian Story)
'If we have made obvious mistakes, we should not try, as we generally do, to gloss them over, or to find something to excuse them; we should admit to ourselves that we have committed faults, and open our eyes wide to their enormity, in order that we firmly resolve to avoid them in time to come'. Arthur Schnopenhauer (1788-1860)
Being 4 years in Malaysia NGV industry, it have been observed that many growth inefficiencies are plaquing the Malaysian NGV industry. These inefficiencies are hampering steady growth in terms of consumer safety and confidence, good conversion practices, excellence aftersales services and stable proftable for installation companies.
The top elements that stop NGV growth dead in its tracks are Ignorance, Unethical and Negligence (or we termed them as NGV Evils). The combination of the three evils are lethal and fatal when it comes into as a single package. This deadly package is Accidents at NGV Stations.
In most cases, the accidents are not related to NGV system. It is the fault of human ignorance, unethical installations and downright negligence by either vehicle owner, installer or both. Here are the cases in point:
29 November 2008: 1st Accident involving NGV vehicle
It has been reported and found that the vehicle owner has been carried an Oxy-Acetylene cylinder in his boot. Firstly, the vehicle owner was ignorant that oxy-acetylene cylinder must be transported with open-ventilation. He took a convenient way, and put into the boot of his Mercedes Benz W124. Coupled with the hot boot temperature and the heating up of the NGV cylinder (during refilling), the oxy-acetylene cylinder exploded. Unfortunately, it happened at a NGV Station in Kuala Lumpur, and giving a perception that NGV can exploded. This is a called of pure human ignorance about transporting flamable items.
10 August 2008: 2nd Accident involving NGV Vehicle
A welder had his vehicle installed with a NGV system properly, but he decided to increase the gas storage capacity by using home cooking or LPG cylinder. Based on his complete ignorance of NGV system, he thought that LPG cylinder is similar to CNG cylinders. Immediately, the LPG cylinder exploded in seconds of refilling. Since he was in front of the vehicle (at frontal refilling), he escaped injury. This welder helped seal the faith for the NGV growth to doom. After this accident, consumers are worried by NGV system being a time-bomb and conversion sales dropped. This 2nd accident is a strong case of ignorance and negligence. A welder should have known better than to play with high pressure gas with low pressure LPG cylinders.
DRX: Safety Ads on NGV Community.com Magazine
The only action that I can take was to write up a Safety Reminder on the 2nd last page in NGV Community.com magazine (written by myself), reminding people the differences between low pressure tank and NGV cylinders. But again, human ignorance and negligence happened for the 3rd time.
7 November 2008: 3rd Accident involving NGV Vehicle
In fact, this accident did not happened on a NGV vehicle. It caused a young life of Mohd Hailmi Ishak - 25, whose his wife was just 2 months pregnant. Firstly, it started with the negligence of a Malaccan Licensed Installer that sold a NGV conversion system indiscriminately. The installer wanted to profit RM80 for trading the NGV system, directly to Allahyaham Mohd Hailmi (untrained NGV installer or appropriately - a consumer). As for Allahyaham Mohd Hailmi, he did not know that LPG cylinder can not be used as CNG cylinders. This led to a massive explosion, killing Mohd Hailmi several hours later with severe injury. Again, it is a classic case of human ignorance and the negligence by the greedy installer.
Personally, I am trying to resolve this human ignorance. The only solution available for me was to provide formal training to interested party. Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysia France Institute (UniKL-MFI) helped me accomplish this goal by having a joint certification programme for NGV Course. Perhaps, this is the 1st step toward reducing or eliminating Human Ignorance in NGV industry.
DRX: Education is the 1st Step to Ignorance Elimination.
With human ignorance and negligence, the NGV growth rate is commonly reversed. Accidents with LPG cylinder (or air compressor tank) stop the NGV growing. Unfortunately, greedy is the root cause of NGV growth inefficiencies.
In this posting, it is clear that human ignorance and negligence constitute 2/3 of the NGV growth inefficiencies. The final elements is unethical installations, which lead to routine vehicle breakdown, road accidents due to sudden engine stalling and others. Unethical installation is the hardest to eradicate.
Be Safe, Drive Safe. DRX
email: drxander@ngv.com.my
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