Luhut: Provision Of Low Fuel For Sulfur Is Needed To Improve Air Quality In Jakarta

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves), Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said efforts to improve air quality in DKI Jakarta still have a great opportunity to be improved.

This was revealed by Luhut during a meeting across ministries/agencies and related agencies at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries office, Jakarta, Wednesday, January 17.

Luhut said that one of his efforts was to improve vehicle exhaust emissions through the provision of low sulfur fuel in DKI Jakarta.

"The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of SOEs through Pertamina for the provision of low sulfur fuel equivalent to standard Euro 4 in DKI in the second quarter (2024) in stages and preparing a roadmap for the provision of standard Euro 5/6 fuel," Luhut said in a written statement, quoted Thursday, January 18.

He assessed that in addition to providing low fuel for sulfur, efforts to develop public transportation and use of Battery-Based Electric Motorized Vehicles (KBLBB) were also needed.

According to Luhut, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government through TransJakarta needs to increase the coverage of areas and the level of public transportation services at crucial points through electric vehicles.

"This can be done with three schemes, namely in the short term, medium term and long term," he said.

It did not stop there, Luhut also gave directions to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) to formulate a roadmap to accelerate the improvement of vehicle emission quality standards to Euro 5/6 in accordance with the readiness to provide fuel.

In the future, Luhut asked all ministries/agencies to encourage the use of KBLBB, both for operational vehicles and socialization to the public.

"The Ministry of SOEs is to coordinate infrastructure development and supporting factors for the use of KBLBB, such as charging stations and funding," he said.

Furthermore, Luhut also asked the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources together with PLN to formulate an acceleration of the improvement in the quality of electricity generation, especially those located near Jabodetabek.

"KLHK and the Ministry of Industry also participated in formulating an increase in the quality of industrial emissions and the Ministry of Finance together with related ministries/agencies to prepare for economic impact analysis and budget needs from the programs above," he added.

Previously, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan also said that the budget for health subsidies due to air pollution in Jakarta had reached around Rp. 10 trillion.

"The current health subsidy is because of this (air pollution) of almost Rp. 10 trillion. So, what do we want, there are not many choices. However, with the efficiency we make here and there, I think it is very important," said Luhut in a video statement on his official Instagram account @luhut.pandjaitan, quoted on Saturday, January 13, 2024.

Therefore, Luhut also mentioned that there are at least two solutions to the problem of air pollution in the capital city.

First, Luhut said the government would accelerate the use of electric vehicles (EV) in Jakarta. Second, the government will encourage the use of fuel oil (BBM) with international standards Euro 4 and Euro 5.