Govt nears end to use of ozone depleting substances
Govt nears end to use of ozone depleting substances
JAKARTA (JP): Despite the absence of regulations and
penalties, the government is optimistic that its campaign against
the widespread use of ozone-depleting substances will soon
succeed.
With the help of funding agencies and the community, Indonesia
will be able to phase out the use of halon later this year. The
use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) -- widely used in air-
conditioning systems and cosmetics -- will be eliminated by the
end of next year, an official said yesterday.
First Assistant to the State Minister of Environment, Aca
Sugandhi, said the government will also stop the use of two other
substances -- trichloroethane and carbon tetrachloride -- next
year.
Since 1992, when Indonesia ratified a number of international
agreements on reduced use of ozone-threatening substances, it has
managed to lower the use of those substances by 50 percent.
Aca said that local industries which stubbornly continue to
use those substances will find it difficult to market their
products.
"There are no regulations which impose penalties on such
manufacturers, but they will be punished by the market itself,"
Aca said. "Most countries have banned the use of those substances
or goods produced using them."
The office of State Minister of Environment yesterday signed a
joint campaign against such substances with the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP).
Under this cooperation, the international body will extend a
grant of US$228,000 (Rp 535.8 million) to two middle-scale foam
manufacturers to develop and use the technology which will enable
them to use ozone-friendly substances such as hydrofluorocarbons
(HFCs).
No data is available as to when the project will commence.
UNDP resident representative Jan C. Kamp said that PT Cahaya
Perdana/Mirah Delima will receive US$173,000 to use an
alternative production technology known as the ozone-friendly
water-blown system. The company annually uses 27 tons of CFCs at
present.
PT Jaya Fibrindo will accept US$55,000 to develop the
technology needed to use hydrofluorocarbons and end its use of 11
tons of CFCs per year.
About 30 large-scale companies will also join the program
soon.
The ban against CFCs and other ozone-depleting substances is
regulated under the 1985 Vienna Convention and a protocol signed
in Montreal in 1987. Indonesia ratified both documents in May,
1992.
Although Indonesia does not export or produce ozone-depleting
substances, some local manufacturers use them, Aca said.
In 1992, Indonesia used 6,567 tons of ozone-depleting
substances; 63.4 percent of them were CFC-12, 14.8 percent halon
and 14.2 percent CFC-11.
Aca called on local manufacturers not to be tempted by the
reduced prices of CFCs being offered by countries such as China
and India, which are the remaining CFC-producing countries. (31)