June 16, 2004
By Lucille Davie
CONSUMERS can expect to pay up to R25 per nozzle for the conversion of their gas stoves to natural gas, which will begin in mid-August, says Egoli Gas.
Having conducted a survey of some 10 000 gas consumers across the older suburbs of the city - from Heriotdale and Kensington in the east, to Melville and Brixton in the west - Egoli Gas expects the conversion process to take about a year.
The conversion has been made possible by the fact that Sasol, which has supplied the city with coal-generated gas from Secunda in Mpumalanga and Sasolburg in the Free State for the past 40 years, can now obtain natural gas from Mozambique.
It is expected that all appliances older than 20 years will have to be replaced. The conversion of stoves involves the replacement of plate nozzles, burners or regulators, depending on the make, and gas geysers and heaters will need new jets.
Egoli Gas is at present assessing possibilities for conversion and replacement and once the survey information is entered into a database, will place bulk orders for conversion kits. Once an analysis of the information has been done, consumers will be notified whether their equipment can be converted and the costs and availability of conversion kits, says CEO Quintus Joubert.
Egoli Gas will pay for the labour costs of the conversion while consumers will be expected to pay for the equipment costs by means of a contract with a down payment.
Egoli Gas warns that they will be forced to cut off the gas supply if consumers do not convert their gas appliances.
"You cannot burn natural gas on a town's gas system without putting your life and your family's life in serious danger, " says Joubert.
Egoli Gas has already obtained bulk supplies of a four-plate gas stove, called the Denver 4B, with a thermostatically controlled oven and crystal lid, measuring 570mm x 483mm x 853mm. The stove will cost R994.85, but Egoli Gas points out that it will not be responsible for the cost of alterations to the consumer's kitchen during instalment.
The city has been divided into sectors, and each sector should take a week to convert. Tests have already been conducted to ascertain that each sector can be successfully isolated for conversion.
"Many cities overseas have converted their networks to natural gas, and we are using their experience to streamline our conversion process," says Joubert.
He expects the work to begin with the town's gas being "blown off", after which natural gas will be introduced. Industrial and commercial users - around 1 700 - can expect to be without gas for up to 24 hours, with priority being given to hospitals.
For more information, contact Egoli Gas on 011 726 1610.
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