Unleaded fuel program to be launched with bike events
Unleaded fuel program to be launched with bike events
JAKARTA (JP): Despite weak planning and promotion, the capital
will officially launch its program to phase out leaded gasoline
on Sunday, an important moment for the environmental movement in
this country.
The event will take place on the eastern side of the National
Monument (Monas) Park and will be attended by Minister of Energy
and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro, State Minister of the
Environment Sonny Keraf, Governor Sutiyoso and state oil and gas
company Pertamina president Baihaki Hakim.
There will be a series of activities held at Monas starting
from 6 a.m., such as a "green" walk, and adults as well as
children's bike events.
According to non-governmental organization Committee for
Leaded Fuel Eradication (KPBB), over 2,000 participants have
registered for the event.
People are expected to come from all over the city and its
buffer zones: Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi.
People indeed have a reason to be rejoice, since poisonous
lead from vehicular emission will no longer be in the air. Well
not as much as before as, according to Pertamina, leaded fuel
will still be available at 202 out of the total of 382 gas
stations in the capital.
Pertamina spokesman Ridwan Nyak Baik said the problem did not
lie with the company as it was ready to supply every gas station.
"The problem is, several gas stations still have an abundant
stock of leaded gasoline. So we have to wait until the stock is
depleted," he told The Jakarta Post by phone on Saturday.
However, an important point that seems to be missing in this
program is promotion.
Whether it is a resident, a gas station attendant or a
mechanic in an auto repair shop, most remain oblivious to the
program.
Ridwan said that Pertamina did coordinate with an association
of oil and gas businessmen.
"But we're only the supplier in this program, so I don't think
promotion is our responsibility. It's NGOs and the city
administration's," he asserted.
Dissemination of information is especially essential for
people whose cars were produced prior to 1985.
Automotive experts have noted that such cars need some
adjustment because the engines use lead to cover the gas
emission's valve seat.
The owner can either change the valve seat or add an additive
to the gasoline. Another solution is to drive slowly.
However, despite all of the weaknesses in implementing the
program, it is indeed an important first step in improving the
quality of air in the capital.
KPBB stated that by removing leaded fuel, not only would there
be a smaller amount of chemicals in the air, there would also be
an up to 90 percent reduction of hydrocarbon (HC), carbon
monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) from vehicular emission.
The government plans to have phased out leaded fuel throughout
the country by 2003.
Lead is added to fuel to boost engine performance and is
reported to be one of the cheapest substances among its kind.
However, it causes environmental and health problems, and also
causes low IQ in children.
Health costs related to leaded gasoline are estimated at Rp 2
trillion (US$181.8 million) annually. (hdn)