Public vehicles told to use gas to curb pollution
JAKARTA (JP): Public transportation vehicles in the capital will be required to use natural gas by the end of this year at the latest, State Minister of the Environment Sonny Keraf said on Tuesday.
"We have not set the exact deadline yet, but all related ministries have begun preparations to realize the plan," Sonny said during a break in a seminar on unleaded gasoline here.
Only some taxis have used natural gas so far.
The mandatory use of natural gas for public transportation vehicles in the capital is part of a broad pollution control campaign called Blue Sky, and is in line with the ongoing promotion of unleaded gasoline. Jakarta is the world's third most polluted city after Mexico City and Bangkok.
In view of the worsening air pollution in urban areas resulting from motor vehicle emissions, the minister of mines and energy issued a decree in October 1999 stipulating a complete phasing out of leaded gasoline by January 2003.
"After the initial move on the use of natural gas for public transportation vehicles, the entire community will be encouraged to follow suit," Sonny said.
A total of 5,441 full-sized buses and 4,981 medium-sized buses have been operating in the capital for more than 20 years.
Sonny admitted that inadequate infrastructure would prove an obstacle to the government's campaign to promote the use of natural gas for fuel. He cited a lack of pipelines and gas stations equipped to sell natural gas to residents, the construction of which would require massive funds.
According to the spokesman of state-owned PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN), Suhartono, there are only six gas stations in the capital selling natural gas, compared to over 180 stations that sell gasoline.
Suhartono said the pipeline network in Jakarta only reached a few industrial estates, such as Pulogadung in East Jakarta and Daan Mogot in West Jakarta.
"The most important thing is a strong commitment from the government to prioritize promoting the use of natural gas by residents. Otherwise, more natural gas stations will have to be closed down," Suhartono told The Jakarta Post.
In line with the policy to promote the use of natural gas, Sonny said the government would invite private companies to invest in the construction of natural gas stations across the capital.
He also urged all bus and taxi companies to equip themselves with natural gas stations.
Devices
Contacted separately, the deputy chairman of the Jakarta office of the Association of Land Transportation Owners, Murphy Hutagalung, welcomed the plan, citing the lower price of natural gas compared to other gasolines.
Currently, liquid natural gas costs Rp 840 per liter, compared to premium which is sold at Rp 1,150 per liter.
However, Murphy was skeptical that public transportation owners could afford to buy fuel conversion devices, which cost at least Rp 5 million (US$526).
"We do not have money to equip our buses with the conversion devices. We would rather purchase spare parts and new buses to replace our aging buses," said Murphy, who also owns about 100 buses in the Arion fleet.
Murphy also said bus companies lacked the technicians to install and maintain the specialized conversion devices.
In line with the government's policy to promote environmentally friendly fuel, the coordinator of the joint committee for the phasing out of leaded gasoline, Ahmad Sjafrudin, called for a presidential decree on the issue.
He said the committee, in cooperation with the U.S. Center for Disease Control, planned to launch a study in May on the level of lead contamination in the bloodstreams of Jakartans.
Meanwhile, Pertamina plans to build a catalytic reformer and isomerization in its Balongan refineries in West Java, and import more raw materials with higher octane levels.
More funds will be needed to modify the refineries, a project that will take between 24 and 32 months at an approximate cost of Rp 230 million.
Pertamina will begin to supply unleaded premium by April this year. However, the price will depend on a government subsidy. (07)