Firms get tools to protect ozone

JAKARTA: The Office of the State Minister for the Environment and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) handed over on Monday equipment to enable 13 refrigerator producers to adopt an ozone-friendly production process.

The companies -- located in Batam, Medan, Tanjung Pinang and Greater Jakarta -- have committed to not using chlorofluorocarbons (CFS) in their products.

So far, the technology conversion project has phased out the annual consumption of over 130 metric tons (MT) of CFCs in the refrigeration manufacturing industry, out of a total 300 MT targeted nationwide by the end of this year.

CFCs are chemicals that rapidly deplete the ozone layer, which may contribute to global warming. Indonesia is expected to cut its total CFCs consumption by some 4,800 MT, as well as 1,231 MT used in the refrigeration manufacturing industry, by 2007. --JP