"With a reduction of emissions and mercury until 2029, we are optimistic of it being followed by the use of energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly LED lamps," Head of the Research Center for the Development of Electricity Technology, New Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Hariyanto, noted on Friday.
Hariyanto later remarked that the ministry will implement various action plans to reduce the demand for lamps containing mercury, thereby lowering the amount of mercury required for lamp production.
The decrease in mercury in lamps was in line with the plan to gradually reduce the number of lamps using mercury in public street lighting, government agency buildings, and other professional buildings, Hariyanto explained.
In this scenario, the amount of mercury in lamps would decrease by 125 kilograms during the 2022-2028 period. Under the plan, the number of lamps containing mercury in circulation will be reduced, from 199 million units to 181 million units during that period.
Although the amount of reduction is not as huge as that in other sectors, such as small-scale gold mining, he explained that even the slightest reduction in mercury will have an impact on public health conditions.
Hariyanto affirmed that the road map readied by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources for the development of high-efficiency lighting had been well-structured to support efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mercury.
"The application of high-efficiency lighting is in line with the efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mercury," he noted.
Manufacturing and energy are included in the priority sectors for mercury reduction, based on the National Action Plan for Mercury Reduction and Elimination issued in 2019. In addition, there is also the health sector and small-scale gold mining.
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Translator: Prisca Triferna V, Resinta S
Editor: Suharto
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