RI a potential dumping site for CFC products<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): The government has warned Indonesian
\nmanufacturers not to be tempted by foreign countries offering
\nbargain prices for Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a substance widely
\nused in air conditioning systems and cosmetics.<\/p>\n
Because most countries have already banned the use of CFCs due
\nto its damaging effects on the ozone layer, the remaining CFC
\nproducing countries -- such as China, India and Greece -- are
\nlikely to try dumping their products in other countries, an
\nenvironmental official said.<\/p>\n
Aca Sugandi, assistant to the minister of environment, told
\nreporters on Friday that Indonesian manufacturers should follow
\nthe international trend and switch to more eco-friendly
\nsubstances.<\/p>\n
Most industrialized countries banned the use of CFCs on Jan.
\n1. Indonesia, because of its relatively low per capita use of CFC
\n-- estimated at less than 0.3 per kilo -- has given itself more
\ntime. The government formed a national committee to oversee the
\nphasing out of ozone depleting substances in 1994. The committee,
\nchaired by the minister of environment, hopes to complete the
\nphase-out program by 2002.<\/p>\n
Aca made his speech after witnessing the signing ceremony of a
\nUS$3.16 million grant from the World Bank to nine Indonesian
\nmanufacturers to help them switch away from technologies that use
\nozone-depleting substances.<\/p>\n
The ban against CFCs and other ozone depleting substances is
\nregulated under a 1985 Vienna convention and a protocol signed in
\nMontreal in 1987. Indonesia ratified both documents in 1992.<\/p>\n
Aca said Indonesian manufacturers should already have begun
\nlooking at other substances such as Hydro Chlorofluorocarbon, or
\nHCFC.<\/p>\n
He admitted that the switch will require major technological
\nchanges and massive financing. He added, however, that
\nmanufacturers relying on ozone-depleting substances should start
\nchanging their methods of production now because the supply of
\nCFC will soon dry up.<\/p>\n
Aca said that other substances are also being targeted,
\nincluding Metil Bromide, which is widely used in Indonesia for
\nproducing pesticides and fungicides, both essential to farming.<\/p>\n
\"We've not ratified the convention (on Metil Bromide) because
\nwe're still using quite a lot of it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Rather than phasing it out, the government might start by
\nrestricting its use either through presidential instruction or a
\nministerial decree, he said.<\/p>\n
\"We can't simply phase it out because the users will protest,\"
\nhe added. (17\/emb)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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