Gas for transportation loses its charm<\/p>\n
Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post , Jakarta<\/p>\n
The use of gas as a clean energy source for cars continues to
\ndecline despite government efforts to reduce the dependency on
\nfuel.<\/p>\n
Gas was introduced to the transportation sector in July 1986
\nin a bid to lessen the use of fuel and promote a cleaner energy.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, after more than 17 years, the results have been
\ndiscouraging.<\/p>\n
Data from state-owned oil and gas firm Pertamina shows gas
\nsales and the number of vehicles using gas have declined sharply
\nover the years. In 2001, gas sales reached 21,767 kiloliters and
\nthere were 4,600 vehicles using gas.<\/p>\n
In 2002, gas consumption for transportation was down to 19,516
\nkiloliters, while the number of vehicles using gas plunged to
\n2,500.<\/p>\n
The fact that gas is 61 percent cheaper than premium gasoline
\nhas not helped. Gas for transportation is now Rp 700 per liter
\nwhile premium gasoline is Rp 1,810 per liter.<\/p>\n
Clean energy campaigner Ahmad Safrudin said at present the
\nnumber of vehicles using gas was less than 2,000 and declining.<\/p>\n
Ahmad said one of the problems was a lack of infrastructure,
\npointing out that there were only 12 stations in Jakarta where
\npeople could fill their cars with gas.<\/p>\n
\"Ideally, Jakarta should have 110 stations,\" Ahmad of the
\nPartnership for Clean Energy told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Ahmad said a lack of adequate technology, weak government
\npolicies and a shortage of domestic gas also were major
\nconstraints in developing gas as a transportation fuel.<\/p>\n
The technology to use gas for transportation is still
\ninadequate and expensive, which prevents car owners from shifting
\nto gas, he said.<\/p>\n
Moreover, the converter kits needed to switch to gas remain
\nexpensive. A converter kit, Ahmad said, costs about Rp 6 million
\nto Rp 7 million (about US$950).<\/p>\n
Gas shortages do not help the situation. Ahmad did not give
\ndetails on the gas supply, but data from the Energy Information
\nCenter at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources shows gas
\nfor domestic use makes up just 35 percent of the total national
\ngas production of three trillion cubic feet per annum.<\/p>\n
Nenny Sri Utami, the head of the Energy Information Center,
\nsaid boosting the use of gas and other alternative sources of
\nenergy for transportation required huge investments of money and
\ntime.<\/p>\n
\"Switching from fuel to other types of energy requires the
\ninstallation of new equipment, which of course requires time and
\nmoney,\" Nenny said.<\/p>\n
Nenny said the government policy of gradually cutting the fuel
\nsubsidy would reduce fuel demand in the long term, but quickly
\nadded that the infrastructure to distribute gas must be
\nimmediately developed.<\/p>\n
The government, through gas firm PT Perusahaan Gas Negara, is
\nnow trying build a national gas transmission pipeline.<\/p>\n
But Ahmad said a strong political will from the government was
\ncrucial if the switch to gas was to be successful.<\/p>\n
\"The government's policy is still half-hearted because it is
\nnot incorporated into policy on the automotive industry,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
For example, the automotive industry should be required to
\nproduce dedicated engines for gas, Ahmad said.<\/p>\n
He added that a government loan scheme for car owners to
\npurchase converter kits would also help promote the use of gas.<\/p>",
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