ASEAN hopes to reduce pollution emission by 4%<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): Experts from the Association of Southeast Asian
\nNations (ASEAN) are pushing for a massive reduction in pollutant
\nemissions by reducing its growth to 4 percent per year.<\/p>\n
The retrenchment of pollutant emissions was one of the
\nproposals put forth during an ASEAN workshop here yesterday,
\nwhich was attended by representatives of the association's seven-
\nmembers.<\/p>\n
The meeting suggested that pollutant emission growth be no
\nhigher than an annual 4 percent between the years 2000 to 2020.
\nThe pollutants identified included nitrogen, sulfide and carbon.<\/p>\n
After opening yesterday's workshop, Umar Said, the secretary-
\ngeneral of the Indonesian Ministry of Mines and Energy, said such
\na reduction program would depend on the technologies used by the
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
\"We know that nitrogen emissions result from high-temperature
\nburning. So the strategy is to use technology which avoids
\nincineration at high temperatures,\" he explained.<\/p>\n
He also said that the state minister of environment's office
\nhad issued a decree underlining the need to reduce emissions from
\nelectric power stations and other sources which emit sulfur
\ndioxide.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the use of alternative energy, Umar claimed that
\nIndonesia was one of the leaders in this field.<\/p>\n
He said that coal and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) are some
\nalternatives already being used.<\/p>\n
He pointed to the use of LPG in cars, particularly taxi cabs.
\nAccording to Umar, some 500 taxis in Jakarta were now using the
\ngas as an alternative energy source.<\/p>\n
He admitted, however, that a wider use of alternative energy
\nwas a long-term objective, and could not be achieved in a short
\nspan of time.<\/p>\n
Umar pointed to a recent survey which indicated that it would
\ntake the country at least a decade to prepare the infrastructures
\nrequired for using a substitute for gasoline.<\/p>\n
One major obstacle would be \"socializing\" the public with the
\nuse of this alternative energy form, who are presently users of
\ngasoline-powered automobiles.<\/p>\n
Umar remarked that if Indonesia remained consistent with the
\nprogram, there would be -- at least in Jakarta -- a significant
\nreduction of pollution from automobiles.<\/p>\n
When asked about the possibility of biomass as an alternative
\nfuel, Umar said there has been a notable decline of its use in
\nrecent years.<\/p>\n
\"But that's actually quite normal, because it's also happening
\nin the developed countries. Biomass is really mostly used in the
\nrural areas,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Umar said that to fulfill the country's high demands for
\nenergy, oil exploration in new areas was being continued.<\/p>\n
\"Although the price of gasoline is currently not very
\nprofitable for (Indonesia) to continue exploration in new areas,
\nthere's no drastic decline in this activity,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added that other methods being used included resuscitation
\nof old wells, which might still have some oil deposits left in
\nthem. (17\/mds)<\/p>",
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