Private cars' emission proved higher than standards

Private cars' emission proved higher than standards

Leony Aurora
Jakarta

Private car owners were given the chance to calculate their
personal contribution to air pollution when they received free
gas emission tests on Friday morning at the Hotel Indonesia
traffic circle in Central Jakarta.

In the two hours after the tests kicked off at 9 a.m., 31 of
75 tested cars failed to pass, as their emissions were higher
than the approved standard.

From 41 petrol-fueled cars, 20 failed and did not receive a
green sticker signifying that they had met the standard.
Meanwhile, 10 of 34 diesel-fueled cars did not comply with the
standard either.

The free test -- the fifth of a series of nine planned to take
place in Greater Jakarta in April and May -- was arranged by the
Office of the State Minister of the Environment and the city
administration to heighten public awareness of Gubernatorial
Decree No. 95/2000 on the inspection and maintenance of private
cars.

"The decree will take effect in September," head of the
Jakarta Environmental Management Agency (BPLHD) Kosasih
Wirahadikusumah said.

As a decree does not carry legal sanctions, the administration
will enforce it through administrative measures. For example,
motorists who fail to obtain the green emission sticker will not
be able to obtain their vehicle registration documents, explained
Kosasih.

Jakartans must have their vehicles tested at least once a year
by one of 107 certified operators in 50 garages, appointed by the
"clean-air team". The garages include several Auto 2000 garages
and an Audi Center in North Jakarta.

Masnellyarti of the state minister's office urged the
administration to produce a bylaw to support the policy.

"With a bylaw, law enforcement would be easier," he said.

Kosasih explained that a bylaw on air pollution was in process
but expressed doubt that it would be endorsed in the near future.
"We hope the next City Council will endorse the bylaw," he said.

Transportation has contributed to 70 percent of the city's air
pollution, followed by industries, 20 percent, and other sources,
10 percent.

Some 315,000 public vehicles operate in Jakarta -- including
buses that are notorious for spewing thick black smoke out of
their exhaust pipes -- and are responsible for 70 percent of
pollution caused by transportation.

Private vehicles -- comprising around 2.79 million motorcycles
and 1.5 million cars -- are responsible for the other 30 percent.

The state minister's office and the administration will hold
four more free emission tests in Jakarta. A total of 2,000
private vehicles are expected to have been tested by the end of
the series. The results will be announced on June 5.

I-box
Gas emission standards for vehicles
.TB2.30" 3.40"
Petrol fuel
Carburetor system
Production year CO(%) HC(ppm)
< 1985 4.0 1,000
1986 - 1995 3.5 800

Injection system
Production year CO(%) HC(ppm)
1986 - 1995 3.0 600

Solar fuel
Production year Opacity(%)
< 1985 50
1986 - 1995 45

Source: Jakarta Environmental Management Agency