Public vehicles told to use gas to curb pollution

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)