"We aim to have cleaner biodiesel by the fourth quarter of 2024 and cleaner gasoline by the first quarter of 2025," Deputy III for Infrastructure and Transportation Coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Rachmat Kaimuddin, noted in a statement from his office on Friday.
Moreover, Indonesia had expanded the reach of TransJakarta buses and the use of electric vehicle (EV) buses, he remarked.
Speaking during a plenary session discussion at the Indonesia International Sustainability Forum (ISF) 2024, he remarked that TransJakarta has used 100 single EV buses and will add another 200 by the end of 2024, with a commitment to purchase 100 percent EV for new single buses in the future.
"We are also evaluating the possibility of expanding the implementation of low emission zones (LEZ)," Kaimuddin stated.
He then drew attention to the efforts to reduce pollution from Steam Power Plants (PLTU) as one of the sources of pollution, especially in urban areas, such as Jakarta, followed by emissions from motor vehicles, open burning, and the quality of Indonesian fuel that had yet to meet Euro standards.
He also pointed to the cost inefficiency in implementing solutions to reduce air pollution, which necessitated coordination from various stakeholders.
"We need to increase research and studies to validate the best cost-effective solutions to reduce air pollution due to PLTU and vehicle exhaust," he emphasized.
Moreover, he noted that the emission standards for PLTU in Indonesia are still lagging behind other countries, such as China, India, the European Union, and the United States.
An evaluation is currently being conducted to find ways to reduce PLTU emissions and improve standards in the future, Kaimuddin remarked.
To tackle the issue of open burning, Law Number 18 of 2018 has been implemented, which prohibits the practice. However, he underscored the need for greater dissemination of education and stricter law enforcement.
In parallel, the Indonesian government is also implementing a waste-to-energy conversion program by preventing open burning in waste processing locations. Two projects have been completed with the upcoming 10 other programs, he revealed.
"To accelerate the improvement of air quality, we need to expand our ability to measure and monitor air quality, install more sensors, and continuously update source sharing to detect the sources of pollution and the impacts of certain acts of pollution," he remarked.
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Translator: Prisca Triferna V, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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