Ozone-depleting substance in abundance in RI: Official
JAKARTA (JP): The country is home to a large amount of an ozone-depleting substance which is even more harmful than the more commonly known chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), an environment official said Wednesday.
Deputy to the state minister of environment Aca Sugandhy said almost 1,000 tons of halon were stored in the country.
He said halons were six times to 10 times more destructive to the ozone layer than CFCs, a coolant commonly used in refrigerators and air conditioners, and as a propellant in aerosol sprays.
Despite information labels on consumer products, awareness of the environmental benefits of using non-CFC products remains low in the country.
Aca was unable to state the tolerable level of halon use, but said there remained no alternative substance to its use in some products.
"There is still no substitute, especially in aircraft and some medical uses," Aca said.
Halons, such as halon 1302 (bromotrifluoromethane) and halon 1211 (bromochlorodifluoromethane), are commonly used as fire extinguishing substances in aircraft engines, auxiliary power units, cargo cabins and aircraft toilets.
Halons are also used as a propellant in medicated sprays for people with asthma.
The immediate solution, Aca said, was the management of the halon substance by a specially designated institution.
Aca was representing the ministry in a ceremony marking the agreement between the ministry and PT Garuda Indonesia, which appointed the company to manage the newly founded National Halon Bank.
"PT Garuda is chosen because the company is the biggest user of halons and has the most adequate facility," Aca told The Jakarta Post of the company, which runs the national airline and aircraft maintenance services.
The country continues to phase out ozone-depleting substances in line with its 1992 ratification of the Montreal Protocol.
The protocol is an international agreement founded in 1987 that established rules on prohibition and special usages of substances harmful to the ozone layer.
As the manager of the halon bank, Garuda will be responsible for supplying halons and monitoring its usage among industries.
The World Bank has given the company a grant of US$484,000 to support the operation.
Beside PT Garuda Indonesia, the state oil and gas company Pertamina and state electricity company PT PLN are also reportedly large users of halon.
The Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund, set up to help countries phase out harmful substances, approved late last year some $940 million for projects to phase out consumption of some 122,000 tons and production of 42,000 CFCs and halons in 177 developing nations. (08)