RI free of ozone-depleting substances by 2007

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia's industries have at least 2,900 metric tons of ozone depleting substances (ODS) or 46 percent of some 6,300 MT of ODS to phase out by 2007 to become a free-ODS country, a senior government official says.

Gunardi, the assistant to the state minister of environment for atmosphere and climate change said on Tuesday he was optimistic the country could meet the ODS target.

"We are seriously carrying out a number of measures to remove the use of ODS in industries," he said at a workshop on ozone depleting solvents.

According to him, an awareness campaign, information for institutions, transfer of technology and the provision of incentives are the main efforts to eliminate ODS from the country.

"So far we have been focused on helping large firms remove ODS, but later on we will help small and medium enterprises (SME) and stop the import of ODS," he said.

Indonesia's use of ODS is estimated at 0.03 kilograms per capita per year, far below the maximum limit of 0.3 kgs per capita.

ODS has been used for years in the industrial sector such as in commercial refrigeration, aerosol, foam, tobacco, pesticide and solvent to clean plastic, glass and metal.

In daily usage, ODS-based products are, among others, refrigerators, air-conditioners, TV sets, disk drives, weapons, shoes, lenses, paint stripper, and clothing made from metal fibers.

Indonesia has targeted the elimination of the use of ODS in 2007, three years earlier than the deadline set under the Montreal Protocol.

Indonesia is among countries that are signatories to the Montreal Protocol as part of efforts to help reduce the depletion of the ozone layer.

The depletion of the ozone will allow more ultraviolet radiation to reach the earth's surface, thus increasing cases of skin cancer, retina damage, infection, and a decline in immunity.

Meanwhile, Nahruddin Alie, Jakarta program officer of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) said the world organization would provide grants for firms that would replace the use of ODS.

Indonesia will propose a grant to substitute the use of 2,400 MT of ODS with non-ODS, he added.

Recipients of the grant are restricted to companies which have been established after July 1995 regardless of their status as 100 percent local ownership or a joint venture.

"We will check whether the companies deserve the grant," he said.

Firms can use many alternative substances such as naftha, ketones, esters and alcohols to operate their business, he added.

The World Bank and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have also been allocating similar grants, Nahruddin said.