Indonesia plans to establish halon bank, official says

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia plans to establish a bank for halon, a widely used fire extinguishing substance which is being phased out globally because it depletes the ozone, to ensure supply for some of its industries that still rely on the material.

R.T.M. Sutamihardja, assistant to the State Minister of Environment, said yesterday that Indonesia must establish such a bank before the end of next year because by then, Indonesian users who rely on the substance might find it difficult to locate suppliers.

Most industrialized countries, including the United States, Japan and Europe stopped producing halon in January.

Sutamihardja said the plan to establish the bank was not inconsistent with Indonesia's own program to phase out the use of ozone depleting substances, including halon.

In the case of halon however, some industries such as aircraft and engine protection, and defense equipment and installations, remain dependent on halon until new technology can be developed.

Among the larger users of halons for fire protection in Indonesia are the state-owned oil company Pertamina, power plants run by the state owned PLN, telecommunications PT Telkom, aviation companies, and defense industry as well as protection of computer installations and special areas in high-rise buildings.

Indonesia has set 1997 as the time when it will completely phase out the use of all types of ozone depleting substances (ODS) and in the case of halon, the deadline is 1996.

Non-conducive

The plan to establish a halon bank was broached yesterday at a two-day workshop to discuss the phasing out of ozone-depleting substances. It is jointly organized by the office of the State Minister of Environment and United Nations Development Programs.

Sutamihardja said Indonesia intends to stop importing halons, bar installation of new halon fire extinguishing systems and stop production of portable halon fire extinguishers by 1996.

Halons are electrically non-conductive, dissipate quickly and leave no residue. Some of them are also safe for human exposure.

Sutamihardja said the bank project is only feasible if there is close cooperation between the fire equipment industry, authorities and users and with technical assistance and financial support.

The workshop yesterday was attended by UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Anders Frismark.

Frismark said that as the first implementing agency to have helped countries phase out over 400 tons of ODS under the Montreal protocol, UNDP was looking forward to helping Indonesia accomplish its goal of a rapid phase out.

Erik Pedersen, UNDP halon expert, talked on topics such as halon replacement and alternatives, recent developments in halon alternatives, and changes in international codes and standards pertaining to halon phase out.

Pedersen reiterated that it is urgent to phase out halon because it is destructive to the ozone layer.

He noted that 90 percent of fire prevention systems now rely on halon but believe that there are safer alternatives. (prs)