The National Bus Company is coming along smoothly, according to the Transport Minister. A recent pilot project of the intercity buses has moved the project forward and the ministry has been able to see the kinks in the system as well as what they would need to implement at the launch of the new public transport system.
Today, they held a Stakeholder's Briefing to update them and the wider public on the National Bus Company. Minister Louis Zabaneh explained that they are working towards an all-electric fleet and, soon, a cashless payment system.
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport
"By the time we got to the week before last, we had 31 bus operators. Today. In the next few days, the legal stuff is going on. We, in essence, will have 15 bus operators, right? The 31 minus the 17, and the 17 being 1. But we're talking a significant consolidation."
"We can buy in bulk now. Fuel costs will go down further. And this is for the present fleet of diesel buses we're talking about. When we reach the point for which we have a transition period from March 1st to the end of August, then we start to get the electric buses replacing the diesel buses, you will see a much more significant drop in the operating costs of the company. And the reason for that is that electric buses have quite a bit less parts than a diesel bus. So, as we move forward, our aim is that by the end of 2027, God willing, that with continued cooperation, collaboration, that this will yield a setting where we will have 100% of the fleet being electric buses. Going forward, a part of that pilot has been the work that you have done in partnership with Digi with the cashless system. So, we've met twice, I believe, with the team from Digi. And the idea is that across the country now, we will want to roll out. And this is where we're certainly grateful to all the media houses who are here, to inform our people that in the coming weeks and months, we will be talking about and starting to activate this cashless system for which you have your card and you tap and you pay. And we're working closely with Digi. We're hoping to come very soon to a full agreement where the present buses will install the equipment on it. And then when the new buses come, they can easily be transferred over to the new buses."
