Indonesia plans to establish halon bank, official says<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia plans to establish a bank for halon, a
\nwidely used fire extinguishing substance which is being phased
\nout globally because it depletes the ozone, to ensure supply for
\nsome of its industries that still rely on the material.<\/p>\n
R.T.M. Sutamihardja, assistant to the State Minister of
\nEnvironment, said yesterday that Indonesia must establish such a
\nbank before the end of next year because by then, Indonesian
\nusers who rely on the substance might find it difficult to locate
\nsuppliers.<\/p>\n
Most industrialized countries, including the United States,
\nJapan and Europe stopped producing halon in January.<\/p>\n
Sutamihardja said the plan to establish the bank was not
\ninconsistent with Indonesia's own program to phase out the use of
\nozone depleting substances, including halon.<\/p>\n
In the case of halon however, some industries such as aircraft
\nand engine protection, and defense equipment and installations,
\nremain dependent on halon until new technology can be developed.<\/p>\n
Among the larger users of halons for fire protection in
\nIndonesia are the state-owned oil company Pertamina, power plants
\nrun by the state owned PLN, telecommunications PT Telkom,
\naviation companies, and defense industry as well as protection of
\ncomputer installations and special areas in high-rise buildings.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has set 1997 as the time when it will completely
\nphase out the use of all types of ozone depleting substances
\n(ODS) and in the case of halon, the deadline is 1996.<\/p>\n
Non-conducive<\/p>\n
The plan to establish a halon bank was broached yesterday at a
\ntwo-day workshop to discuss the phasing out of ozone-depleting
\nsubstances. It is jointly organized by the office of the State
\nMinister of Environment and United Nations Development Programs.<\/p>\n
Sutamihardja said Indonesia intends to stop importing halons,
\nbar installation of new halon fire extinguishing systems and stop
\nproduction of portable halon fire extinguishers by 1996.<\/p>\n
Halons are electrically non-conductive, dissipate quickly and
\nleave no residue. Some of them are also safe for human exposure.<\/p>\n
Sutamihardja said the bank project is only feasible if there
\nis close cooperation between the fire equipment industry,
\nauthorities and users and with technical assistance and financial
\nsupport.<\/p>\n
The workshop yesterday was attended by UNDP Deputy Resident
\nRepresentative Anders Frismark.<\/p>\n
Frismark said that as the first implementing agency to have
\nhelped countries phase out over 400 tons of ODS under the
\nMontreal protocol, UNDP was looking forward to helping Indonesia
\naccomplish its goal of a rapid phase out.<\/p>\n
Erik Pedersen, UNDP halon expert, talked on topics such as
\nhalon replacement and alternatives, recent developments in halon
\nalternatives, and changes in international codes and standards
\npertaining to halon phase out.<\/p>\n
Pedersen reiterated that it is urgent to phase out halon
\nbecause it is destructive to the ozone layer.<\/p>\n
He noted that 90 percent of fire prevention systems now rely
\non halon but believe that there are safer alternatives. (prs)<\/p>",
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