RI, South Korea to develop coal technology<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and South Korea will cooperate in
\ndeveloping coal briquette technology, in a bid to promote the use
\nof that fuel in households and small industries.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian and South Korean governments signed yesterday a
\ncooperation agreement, whereby they will study the development of
\nthe most suitable coal briquette technology to be applied in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Director General of Mines
\nKuntoro Mangkusubroto said that the cooperation is part of
\nIndonesian efforts to develop other alternative forms of energy,
\nto curb the domestic consumption of oil.<\/p>\n
\"Kerosene and wood are the typical fuels used for households
\nand small industries in Indonesia. To preserve forests from
\ndeforestation and utilize oil resources efficiently, the
\ngovernment has decided to promote the coal briquette as a fuel
\nsubstitute,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Currently, out of the primary energy mix consumed in
\nIndonesia, 40 percent is still provided by oil, 30 percent by
\nbiomass, 20 percent by natural gas and 10 percent by other energy
\nsources, including coal. By the year 2002, the share of oil is
\nprojected to decline to about 30 percent and the share of coal
\nwill jump to 56 percent, due to the government's energy
\ndiversification policy.<\/p>\n
Coal is abundantly available in Indonesia -- the world's third
\nlargest producer of coal after Australia and South Africa.
\nUnfortunately, coal does not belong to the category of ideal
\nenergy alternatives. The plan to use coal extensively for fuel
\nhas not yet been received warmly by the general public.<\/p>\n
Worry<\/p>\n
Kuntoro pointed out that as long as the standard consistency
\nis maintained, the worry in using coal can be minimized. In
\naddition, the application of proper clean-coal technology will
\nmake it possible for coal utilization to have only a minimum
\nnegative impact on the environment, especially with Indonesia's
\nfavorable coal quality.<\/p>\n
\"Coal is truly a great opportunity for Indonesia. We have to
\ncapitalize on it to support the sustainable economic
\ndevelopment,\" he noted.<\/p>\n
To develop such an energy, the government has, since April,
\n1993, selected three villages in Java for pilot projects. The
\nresult of that campaign, until now, shows that people are
\nstarting to accept the coal briquette for household purposes.<\/p>\n
\"We still need to do more work, such as improving the quality
\nof coal briquettes, making the briquettes easier to ignite and
\nreducing smoke and odor,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added that, under the cooperation with South Korea, which
\nis said to have greatly benefited from the coal briquette
\ntechnology, the additional work can be accomplished.<\/p>\n
By the fiscal years 1998\/1999 and 2003\/2004, coal briquettes
\nused by households are predicted to reach 4.8 million and 12
\nmillion tons respectively. (13)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-south-korea-to-develop-coal-technology-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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