World Bank grants firms $3.5m for ozone projects<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Seven companies have received US$3.5 million in
\ngrants from the World Bank to replace ozone-destroying production
\ntechniques and materials with more environmentally-friendly
\nmeans.<\/p>\n
The companies are the second group among the 26 Indonesian
\nfirms included in the World Bank-sponsored, US$17 million ozone
\nprotection projects. Assistant to the Minister of Environment Aca
\nSugandhy presided over the signing of the sub-grant agreement
\nbetween his office and the seven companies yesterday.<\/p>\n
The project is part of the World Bank's US$90 million Montreal
\nProtocol loan to 12 developing countries. Under the agreement,
\nthe companies will be required to replace ozone-destroying
\nprocedures with more ozone-friendly methods.<\/p>\n
The office of the minister of environment cooperated with the
\nWorld Bank in conducting a feasibility study and has identified
\n26 manufacturers of refrigerant and aerosol which qualify to
\nobtain portions of the funds.<\/p>\n
The companies were selected by the National Development
\nPlanning Board (Bappenas) and the ministries of finance,
\nindustry, trade and foreign affairs under the coordination of the
\nenvironment minister's office.<\/p>\n
With the help of funding agencies and the community, Indonesia
\nis optimistic it will be able to phase out the use of ozone-
\ndepleting halon later this year. Utilization of the
\nchlorofluorocarbons widely used in air-conditioning systems and
\ncosmetics will be eliminated by the end of next year.<\/p>\n
The government plans to stop the use of two other substances,
\ntrichloroethane and carbon tetrachloride, next year.<\/p>\n
Since 1992, when Indonesia ratified a number of international
\nagreements on reduced use of ozone-threatening substances, it has
\nmanaged to lower the use of those substances by 50 percent.<\/p>\n
Indonesia does not produce ozone-depleting substances.
\nHowever, some local manufacturers use them.<\/p>\n
In 1992, Indonesia used 6,567 tons of ozone-depleting
\nsubstances: CFC-12 accounted for 63.4 percent, halon 14.8 percent
\nand CFC-11 accounted for14.2 percent.<\/p>\n
In yesterday's ceremony, Aca called on local businessmen and
\nthe general public to support the government's campaign to phase
\nout use of ozone-depleting substances. (swe)<\/p>",
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