Most motorists ignorant about unleaded gasoline<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Almost two-thirds of respondents to an
\nIndonesian Consumers Foundation survey revealed they know
\npractically nothing about unleaded gasoline.<\/p>\n
The foundation's chairwoman, Tini Hadad, said yesterday that
\nthe survey, which involved 300 car drivers and 300 motorcycle
\nriders across the city, was intended to gauge, among other
\nthings, people's awareness of the city's air pollution.<\/p>\n
Almost 64 percent of respondents showed very little knowledge
\nof the benefits of using unleaded gasoline, an environmentally
\nfriendly fuel which produces less air pollution than traditional
\ngasoline.<\/p>\n
\"Unfortunately, although many respondents know that leaded
\ngasoline is harmful to people's health, their knowledge of
\nunleaded gasoline is still low,\" she said yesterday in a meeting
\nto announce a clean air project for the city.<\/p>\n
The scheme, which is scheduled to start this month and end in
\nDecember next year, will be conducted jointly by Swisscontact, a
\nprivate foundation working to improve urban environments, and PT
\nQipra Galang Kualita.<\/p>\n
Tini said that people's poor knowledge of unleaded gasoline
\ncould be gauged from their responses to questions on the effects
\nof unleaded gasoline.<\/p>\n
Of the 36 percent of the respondents who claimed to know about
\nunleaded gasoline, 19.5 percent said that unleaded gasoline
\nimproved engine performance; 6.5 percent said that it reduced
\nengine performance; 3 percent said it destroyed engines and the
\nremaining 7 percent said it did not affect engines at all.<\/p>\n
\"The answers, especially the fear that unleaded gasoline will
\ndestroy engines, show that many people still don't really know
\nabout unleaded gasoline,\" Tini said.<\/p>\n
Despite the lack knowledge, Tini praised people's willingness
\nto improve air quality by using unleaded gasoline.<\/p>\n
Almost 84 percent of the respondents either \"agreed\" or
\n\"absolutely agreed\" to use unleaded gasoline, providing its price
\nwas reasonable, she said.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, Tini also urged state-owned oil company
\nPertamina to increase the number of gas stations selling unleaded
\ngasoline.<\/p>\n
\"How can we urge people to use unleaded gasoline when there's
\na very limited number of gas stations which provide the fuel,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
Just like buying daily needs, people can be encouraged to buy
\na certain product if it is readily available.<\/p>\n
\"So far, only a small number of gas stations sell unleaded
\ngasoline,\" Tini said without giving details.<\/p>\n
Unleaded gasoline, under the brand name Super TT, is sold by
\nPertamina for Rp 975 (32 US cents) per liter, compared to Rp 850
\nfor leaded fuel.<\/p>\n
The company, however, has tried to reduce the use of leaded
\nfuel by stopping the production of Super gasoline, which had high
\nlead levels.<\/p>\n
Last year Pertamina supplied about 50,000 liters of unleaded
\ngasoline to the Jakarta market.<\/p>\n
Jakarta has 2.5 million vehicles and 153 filling stations for
\ndiesel fuel and gasoline. Eleven have agreed to provide liquefied
\npetroleum gas and 13 also sell compressed natural gas.<\/p>\n
A member of Swisscontact said here last year that banning
\nleaded fuel could improve the city's air quality by up to 40
\npercent within a year.<\/p>\n
David Kuper, Swisscontact's resident representative in
\nJakarta, said yesterday that the advantages of a complete change
\nto unleaded gasoline would reduce many health problems, raise
\naffected children's IQs and lower vehicle maintenance costs.<\/p>\n
Minister of Mines and Energy I.B. Sudjana said in March that
\nleaded gasoline would be phased out and be banned in 1999. (ste)<\/p>",
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