Govt lacks commitment to use gas<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government has admitted to a lack of political will and an
\nabsence of an integrated energy policy to promote natural gas as
\nan alternative fuel to help reduce air pollution.<\/p>\n
Deputy of State Minister of the Environment in charge of Non-
\nInstitution Environment Impact Management Tanwir Yazid M. said
\nthat although the government had campaigned the use of Compressed
\nNatural Gas (CNG) for motor vehicle fuel since 1986, CNG sales
\nwere about 26 million liters per year or only 0.3 percent of the
\ntotal consumption of gasoline and automotive diesel fuel.<\/p>\n
"One important point is that, like in other countries, without
\nthe political will to seriously promote CNG as an alternative
\nfuel, natural gas will remain unpopular," he said.<\/p>\n
Air pollution in the country is getting worse due mainly to
\nthe increasing number of motor vehicles and factories that use
\npolluting fossil fuels.<\/p>\n
Millions of gasoline and diesel vehicles -- with an 8 percent
\nto 12 percent annual growth rate -- contribute about 60 percent
\nto 70 percent of total air pollution.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Environmental Management Agency (BPLH) said, 31.23
\npercent of the air was categorized as unhealthy last year, an
\nincrease of 8.49 percent in 2001.<\/p>\n
The clear and present danger of air pollution is real as
\npollutants like carbon monoxide (CO) could cause death and worsen
\nheart disease. Lead (Pb) could cause brain damage and trigger
\nheart attacks. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) could cause respiratory
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
According to research presented last year, lead-related
\nillnesses alone, in 1999, forced Jakartans to spend a total of Rp
\n3.3 trillion (US$410 million) on medical treatment.<\/p>\n
Tanwir said that one of the main challenges facing the
\ngovernment in developing CNG was to develop a natural gas
\npipeline to distribute it across the country. At present, the
\ndevelopment of a pipeline to link Sumatra and Java is underway,
\nbut there are no plans to connect other islands.<\/p>\n
He agreed that the price of natural gas should be kept low to
\nencourage people to use it. The government is allocating
\nsubsidies for gasoline and diesel producers, but none for CNG.<\/p>\n
Experts have estimated that CNG should be sold at a maximum
\nlevel of 60 percent or Rp 1,140 (US 12.8 cent) per liter of its
\ncurrent market price which is around Rp 1,900.<\/p>\n
As of May, the price of CNG at filling stations here was Rp
\n450 per liter, while gasoline is around Rp 1,810 per liter.
\nState-owned oil and gas company Pertamina suffers the loss from
\nselling CNG at a price far below the market.<\/p>\n
Tanwir suggested that the government also oblige bus, taxi,
\nand other public transportation vehicles to use CNG, and oblige
\nautomotive producers to import or produce CNG vehicles.<\/p>\n
The government must also give tax incentives to businessmen
\nwho deal with CNG.<\/p>\n
Pertamina's manager of special products, Maulanatzi agreed
\nwith Tanwir, saying that CNG needed to be promoted by the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
"We'll be ready to continue the development of CNG fuel
\nstations if the government can cover the cost of production. If
\nfirms like us are forced to sell CNG for a net loss, we will go
\nbankrupt," he said.<\/p>\n
When interviewed by The Jakarta Post, taxi drivers Agus and
\nMaman said they would only support the use of CNG as long as it
\nwas cheaper, proven safe and easy to obtain.<\/p>\n
"In my experience, many people just don't want to get in my
\ntaxi if I use CNG. They are afraid my car will blow up because of
\nCNG," Agus said.<\/p>\n
"Besides, CNG stations in Jakarta remain scarce, let alone on
\nthe outskirts of town," he added.<\/p>\n
At present, there are 17 stations in Java and nine in Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Besides the lack of public confidence in the safety of CNG and
\na limited number of filling stations, people have also complained
\nabout the expensive price of converters.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-lacks-commitment-to-use-gas-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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