Fuel vapour emissions at petrol stations pose a potential threat to\npublic health and the environment. This issue emerged during a public\ndiscussion titled \u201cToxic Hazardous Vapours (VOCs) at Petrol Stations,\nWhat Are the Solutions?\u201d held at Hotel Amaris Pancoran, Jakarta, on\nSaturday, 14 March.<\/p>\n
The Chairman of the Association of Petrol Station Operators, Chandra,\nexpressed optimism that the discussion would yield concrete solutions to\nalleviate public concerns about lingering in petrol station areas and\nprovide policy recommendations to the government.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have held this discussion twice before, and we hope this third\ndiscussion runs smoothly. We expect the issue raised to produce positive\nresults and solutions so the public no longer hesitates to visit petrol\nstations,\u201d Chandra stated.<\/p>\n
The problem of petrol vapours escaping into the air is not merely an\nenvironmental issue but also represents massive economic losses.<\/p>\n
Senior journalist Brigita Manohara, who participated in the\ndiscussion, revealed that technology currently exists that can condense\nfuel vapours and return them to liquid form.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe petrol vapour released can result in losses estimated at\napproximately Rp3.8 trillion per year. If the vapour can be captured and\nreprocessed, besides reducing pollution, it can also restore its\neconomic value,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Vapour Recovery System (VRS) installation expert Baidi explained that\nthe technology can capture volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the\nfilling and storage processes at petrol stations.<\/p>\n
The VRS machine operates by utilising the pressure of fuel vapour\nentering the system, which is then processed through distillation and\ncooling until it becomes fuel again.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe process takes approximately 30 minutes to one hour to become\nfuel again. From the original machine, this equipment can capture around\n75-80 per cent of VOC vapours,\u201d Baidi explained.<\/p>\n
He added that fuel loss due to evaporation typically ranges from\n0.12-0.2 per cent, or approximately 12 litres. With this technology,\nmost of the vapour can be recaptured. Currently, the equipment has been\ninstalled at approximately 20 petrol stations in the Jabodetabek\narea.<\/p>\n
However, Baidi acknowledged that the technology is still imported\nfrom South Korea at a cost of approximately Rp600 million per unit.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the system to work effectively, the condition of underground\ntanks at petrol stations must be good, particularly the main hole. If\nthere is a leak in that area, the machine cannot work optimally in\ncapturing vapours,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
On the same occasion, the SKK Migas Supervisory Unit, also Special\nStaff to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Anggawira,\nassessed the issue as highly relevant because it directly concerns\npublic health and petrol station infrastructure standards.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeveral VOC components impact health, such as benzene, which is\ncarcinogenic; ethylbenzene, which is also potentially carcinogenic;\ntoluene, which can cause nerve damage; xylene, which is irritant; and\nn-hexane, which is a neurotoxin,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
According to him, the government is open to further discussions on\nfuel vapour control technology through ongoing forums involving various\nstakeholders.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, he cautioned that the business conditions of petrol\nstation operators must also be considered, as their profit margins are\nincreasingly narrow whilst investment for a single machine unit reaches\napproximately Rp600 million, or about 10 per cent of total petrol\nstation investment.<\/p>\n
Moving forward, the government is also encouraging the possibility of\ndomestic production of similar equipment to make investment costs more\naffordable.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-examines-implementation-of-fuel-vapour-control-technology-1773586273", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }