RI free of ozone-depleting substances by 2007<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia's industries have at least 2,900 metric tons of
\nozone depleting substances (ODS) or 46 percent of some 6,300 MT
\nof ODS to phase out by 2007 to become a free-ODS country, a
\nsenior government official says.<\/p>\n
Gunardi, the assistant to the state minister of environment
\nfor atmosphere and climate change said on Tuesday he was
\noptimistic the country could meet the ODS target.<\/p>\n
\"We are seriously carrying out a number of measures to remove
\nthe use of ODS in industries,\" he said at a workshop on ozone
\ndepleting solvents.<\/p>\n
According to him, an awareness campaign, information for
\ninstitutions, transfer of technology and the provision of
\nincentives are the main efforts to eliminate ODS from the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
\"So far we have been focused on helping large firms remove
\nODS, but later on we will help small and medium enterprises (SME)
\nand stop the import of ODS,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's use of ODS is estimated at 0.03 kilograms per
\ncapita per year, far below the maximum limit of 0.3 kgs per
\ncapita.<\/p>\n
ODS has been used for years in the industrial sector such as
\nin commercial refrigeration, aerosol, foam, tobacco, pesticide
\nand solvent to clean plastic, glass and metal.<\/p>\n
In daily usage, ODS-based products are, among others,
\nrefrigerators, air-conditioners, TV sets, disk drives, weapons,
\nshoes, lenses, paint stripper, and clothing made from metal
\nfibers.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has targeted the elimination of the use of ODS in
\n2007, three years earlier than the deadline set under the
\nMontreal Protocol.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is among countries that are signatories to the
\nMontreal Protocol as part of efforts to help reduce the depletion
\nof the ozone layer.<\/p>\n
The depletion of the ozone will allow more ultraviolet
\nradiation to reach the earth's surface, thus increasing cases of
\nskin cancer, retina damage, infection, and a decline in immunity.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Nahruddin Alie, Jakarta program officer of the
\nUnited Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) said
\nthe world organization would provide grants for firms that would
\nreplace the use of ODS.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will propose a grant to substitute the use of 2,400
\nMT of ODS with non-ODS, he added.<\/p>\n
Recipients of the grant are restricted to companies which have
\nbeen established after July 1995 regardless of their status as
\n100 percent local ownership or a joint venture.<\/p>\n
\"We will check whether the companies deserve the grant,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Firms can use many alternative substances such as naftha,
\nketones, esters and alcohols to operate their business, he added.<\/p>\n
The World Bank and United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
\nhave also been allocating similar grants, Nahruddin said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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