Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Ministry of Environment is stepping up efforts to prevent and mitigate air pollution in the Greater Jakarta area, including through increased monitoring of industrial areas and taking decisive action against polluters.

The ministry's Deputy for Pollution and Environmental Damage Control Rasio Ridho Sani stated on Wednesday that the evaluation of data from the Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (SPKUA) during the dry season indicated that several locations had Air Pollutant Standard Index (ISPU) values in the unhealthy category.

"Therefore, we are being instructed to continue monitoring air quality in the Greater Jakarta area, conduct evaluations, and prepare prevention and mitigation steps, including law enforcement. Public health and safety are important," he emphasized.

His team is focusing on sources of air pollution in Greater Jakarta, including vehicle emissions, industrial emissions, open burning of waste, land clearing, building construction dust, and secondary aerosols.

Regarding vehicle emissions, Sani explained that coordination with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, local governments, and PT Pertamina is ongoing to accelerate the availability of low-sulfur fuel or equivalent to Euro 4 standards—24 percent for gasoline and 10 percent for diesel, including biodiesel. Emission tests are also being conducted at several locations.

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Efforts are also underway to address industrial air pollutants. Business actors and industries are being urged to increase the use of the Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS) to 80 percent by the end of 2025 and to raise the use of Emission Control Equipment to 21 percent, he noted.

"We have carried out performance assessments on 74 tenants in one of the industrial areas in Jakarta and on 70 tenants in industrial areas in Bekasi District. This performance assessment will continue to cover a total of 48 industrial areas in Greater Jakarta," Sani remarked.

Meanwhile, the ministry's Deputy for Law Enforcement Rizal Irawan announced plans to conduct intensive supervision and take firm action against polluters.

His side has halted operations and taken legal action against several companies, including metal smelting industries, such as PT SAS in Bekasi District; PT SDS in Tangerang City; PT XAI, PT PSM; and PT PSI in Tangerang District.

Additionally, actions have been taken against the tofu manufacturing company PT JF in South Tangerang City, the textile company PT RIC in Bogor District, the B3 waste smelting company PT ALP in Tangerang District, and the non-ferrous metal extrusion company PT YR in Tangerang District.

Related news: Environment minister to crack down on polluters around Jakarta

Translator: Prisca Triferna, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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