Info campaign on unleaded fuel recommended
JAKARTA (JP): Phasing out leaded fuel in the capital, starting on July 1, is not enough to ensure clean air due to the lack of prior publicity and supporting regulations, non governmental organizations noted on Friday.
Restiti, a program officer from Swisscontact, a Swiss-based international environmental agency, said that people are still unfamiliar with unleaded fuel and its benefits.
"So, we have to repeatedly disseminated information to the public," she told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of a discussion here.
Restiti added that the agency also keeps persuading people to submit their vehicles for emission tests at the auto repair shops.
"So far, there are some 200 repair shops in the city that have the equipment for emission testing," she said.
Last year, Swisscontact cooperated with over 100 auto repair shops all over the city to conduct free emission tests.
It turned out that 90 percent of the cars checked were found to emit a high content of harmful gas because of incorrect engine tuning.
Most of the time, the cars did not need major repairs, just recalibration of the carburetor.
"It is important that this is publicized. We've asked the auto repair shop employees to explain to customers the result of their emission test and the figures displayed in it," Restiti said.
The parameters displayed in the equipment are the levels of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen and hydrocarbons.
The maximum standard emission level set by the city administration for vehicles using gasoline is 4.5 percent carbon monoxide, 11 percent carbon dioxide, 2 percent oxygen and 1,200 ppm (parts per million) hydrocarbons.
"The emission test is done at least once a year, so it's not that expensive, but it has a big impact in curbing air pollution," Restiti said.
"For the moment we are focusing on private cars first, then public transportation after that," she added.
It is estimated that there are some two million private cars in the city. In total, some 300 stations are necessary to check the cars.
Meanwhile, chief executive of the Committee for Leaded Fuel Eradication Ahmad Safrudin said that while it was a good thing that leaded fuel should be banished from the capital on July 1, there was no legally binding guarantee of this from government.
"There is no regulation which binds every party (ensuring that) leaded fuel will be banished in the capital in July or in January 2003 for the country," Ahmad said.
It is likely that the plan for the country will fail, he said.
"Even the decree from the coordinating minister for the economy has yet to be issued. They said there is no money to build refineries. That is because business considerations are always the priority," Ahmad said.
Lead is added to fuel to boost engine performance, but has been shown to be a cause of environmental and health problems, and lower IQ levels in children.
Health costs related to the use of leaded gasoline are estimated at Rp 2 trillion (about US$210.5 million) annually. (hdn)