No more leaded gasoline in 1999, says Sudjana<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Mines and Energy I.B. Sudjana said
\nleaded gasoline would be phased out until 1999, when it would be
\nbanned to reduce pollution.<\/p>\n
Therefore the public should start modifying their cars and
\nusing natural gas, Sudjana was quoted by Antara as saying Sunday.<\/p>\n
He was witnessing a vehicle emission test at the National
\nMonument (Monas) park.<\/p>\n
He admitted the state-owned oil company Pertamina was still
\nproducing leaded gasoline, such as Premix.<\/p>\n
\"But we have reduced the use of leaded gasoline by stopping
\nthe production of Super gasoline, which had high lead levels,\"
\nSudjana said.<\/p>\n
He said the public did not use much natural gas because there
\nwas a limited number of stations providing unleaded fuel.<\/p>\n
\"But that will no longer be main reason as we are adding more
\nstations,\" Sudjana said.<\/p>\n
\"Maybe people are reluctant (to switch to natural gas) out of
\nhabit,\" Sudjana said.<\/p>\n
Last year, members of Swisscontact, a private foundation
\nworking for urban environments, said here that banning leaded
\nfuel could improve the city's air quality by up to 40 percent
\nwithin a year.<\/p>\n
David Kuper, the foundation's Jakarta representative, said
\nthere was no need to wait for years before phasing out leaded
\ngasoline. \"There is no need to wait until 2004,\" Kuper said.<\/p>\n
Initially, Pertamina officials had told the foundation leaded
\ngasoline would be phased out by 2004 to allow time for the
\nadjustment of refineries and other changes.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that Pertamina's president director, Faisal
\nAbda'oe, said the company had started producing more unleaded
\nfuel and adding more stations.<\/p>\n
He said the marketing of Super TT, the unleaded fuel's brand
\nname, was still weak, as at Rp 975 per liter, it still cost more
\nthan regular fuel.<\/p>\n
In a seminar last week on public transport at the State
\nMinistry of Environment, Saut M. Lubis, an expert involved in the
\ncity's Blue Sky anti-pollution drive, urged the government to
\nmake leaded fuel more expensive than unleaded.<\/p>\n
\"I don't see why such a practical, urgent measure, is not
\ntaken,\" Saut said, charging that the government was not serious
\nabout improving air quality.<\/p>\n
Last year Pertamina began supplying about 50,000 liters of
\nunleaded gasoline to the Jakarta market, the only place where
\nnatural gas is sold.<\/p>\n
Jakarta has 2.5 million vehicles and 153 stations for diesel
\nfuel and gasoline. Eleven have agreed to provide liquefied
\npetroleum gas (LPG). Thirteen stations also sell compressed
\nnatural gas (CNG). (ste)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/no-more-leaded-gasoline-in-1999-says-sudjana-1447893297",
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