Further studies of Danish coal technology urged
Further studies of Danish coal technology urged
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto has called for a further
studies of Danish technology for clearing coal from its' sulfur
content with a view to expanding the use of coal in the country.
Speaking at a presentation of Indonesia's geological map
yesterday, the President recounted his recent meeting the
visiting Danish minister of the environment, Sven Auken, who told
him that sulfur content, which causes air pollution, can be
eliminated from coal.
"We should soon make a further study on the technology so that
we can expand the use of coal," he said, adding that Denmark had
already expressed its willingness to transfer to Indonesia the
environmental know-how.
The technology, he added, will make possible a massive
expansion of coal use for firing or generating electricity
without causing pollution.
He noted that Indonesia is very rich in coal with estimated
deposits adequate for meeting the country's needs for 100 to 200
years.
According to him, expanding coal usage will further support
the country's policy of saving oil as much as possible for
exports.
Soeharto added that using oil to generate power is very
expensive, especially because the fossil fuel is not renewable.
"If we build more diesel power-stations we could end up
importing oil in the future," he noted.
He said the government has produced a complete geological map
that shows the locations of commercially viable coal resources.
Internet
He suggested that the result of the geological mapping be
entered into the Internet to let the world, particularly
investors, know the Indonesian potential coal resources.
"We're very rich in minerals and various kinds of stones. We
can sell them through the Internet," he noted at the
presentation, which was also attended by Minister of Mines and
Energy I.B. Sudjana, Minister of Agriculture Sjarifudin Baharsjah
and Minister of the Public Works Radinal Moochtar.
Minister Sudjana said that a geological mapping team concluded
that Indonesia has 1,000 sedimentary basins that may hold
various kinds of minerals and precious stones, such as gold,
silver and copper.
He said that the geological map is very important to help
design a development masterplan. "It tells us where we should not
build a transmigration site, where areas that are prone to
landslide, earthquake and volcanic eruption are located," he
said.
He added that the Ministry of Mines and Energy has completed
58 geological maps of Java and Madura island, and 181 geological
maps of the outer islands. (13)