The NGC CNG Company Limited and the Association of Maxi Taxi of T&T (AMTTT) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to facilitate a grant for the purchase of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) CNG maxi taxis. Under the terms of the MOU, NGC CNG will provide a grant to successful applicant, of $45,000 for small diesel powered maxi-taxis or $75,000 for large diesel powered maxis.
The grant represents the salvage value of each sized maxi taxi and will be used toward the purchase of an OEM CNG powered maxi taxi. The old diesel powered maxi will be destroyed and so there will be no net increase in maxi taxis on the roads. The grant will be available to any registered maxi taxi owner in T&T who meets certain criteria.
At the signing ceremony NGC CNG president Curtis Mohammed said: "We are confident that this grant will assist in catalyzing the replacement of old, diesel maxi units with new, cleaner burning equipment on the roads of T&T."
Roger Sant, marketing and communications manager, NGC CNG Company Ltd, said the total value of the grant facility is $60 million. He said there are approximately 5,000 maxi taxis in T&T, transporting the public in 12 and 25 seater buses.
AMTTT president Eon Hewitt was happy for this landmark development.
"The maxi taxi owners are extremely happy for this assistance to change to OEM CNG maxi taxis and to play our part in national development," he said.