RI free of ozone-depleting substances by 2007

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.