KPBB: The Goal Of Supplying Environmentally Friendly Fuel Is To Accelerate Air Pollution Control

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Committee for the Elimination of Leaded Gasoline (KPBB) revealed that the purpose of the supply of environmentally friendly fuel (Low Sulfur Fuel) is the acceleration of air pollution control from the highway transportation sector which is the largest source of air pollution in urban areas, especially Jabodetabek.

KPBB Executive Director Ahmad Safrudin in Jakarta, Monday, August 12, said that the implementation of the Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry (PermenLHK) No. P20/2017 concerning Standard Vehicle Emissions for New Types (Euro4/IV Vehicle Standard) is very strategic, both in controlling air pollution emissions, as well as in creating nurseries in order to win national auto-industrial battles in the global market.

"Without the implementation of Euro4/IV and 6/VI Vehicle Standard, air pollution in JABODETABEK will increase by 2030," he said, quoted from Antara.

The increase in air pollution was marked by an increase in the emission load for the parameters of PM2.5/PM10, SOx, NOx, HC and CO each by 57 percent, 50.75 percent, 51.54 percent, 67.17 percent and 66.02 percent so that the total emission expense reached 17.89 million tons/year or 49,032 tons/day.

Meanwhile, with the Euro4/IV Vehicle Standard adoption scenario in 2024, PM2.5/PM10, SOx, NOx, HC and CO parameters will fall 76.56 percent, 99.67 percent, 47.19 percent, 68.86 percent and 77.50 percent, respectively.

If this scenario is tightened by the implementation of Euro6/VI Vehicle standards in 2028, the above parameter emission burdens will decrease by 93.40 percent, 99.77 percent, 52.85 percent, 87.45 percent and 79.75 percent, respectively.

The decrease in various parameters of air pollution in JABODETABEK will also reduce the number of respiratory-related illness/disease in 2030, for example cases of pneumonia and ISPA will decrease by 22 percent and 8 percent if Euro4/IV Vehicle Standard is applied in 2024, and if Euro6/VI Vehicle Standard is implemented in 2028, it will decrease by 50 percent and 20 percent, respectively.

Meanwhile, Deputy for Infrastructure and Transportation Coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment Muhammad Rachmat Kaimuddin said that it is absolute to provide fuel supplies that meet vehicle technology requirements according to emission standards as regulated in the Euro4/IV Vehicle standard regulation.

In addition to air pollution control, the provision of fuel that meets the requirements of vehicle technology is also to prevent damage to fuel pumps, filters, injectors and catalityc converters that are very sensitive when exposed to dirty fuel with high sulfur levels.

Injectors, for example, will be clogged if the vehicle is filled with fuel with high sulfur levels so that it does not function to create perfect combustion in the engine fuel room.

If it is damaged, then this injector must be replaced where the price per unit is around Rp. 4.5 million, while 1 car, for example, requires 3-4 injectors.

"The implementation of the Euro4/IV Vehicle Standard fuel supply will not have implications for increasing fuel prices at gas stations, but there will be restrictions on the distribution of subsidized fuel only to those who are entitled," said Rachmat Kaimuddin.

This restriction refers to the requirements for vehicle technology, namely certain types of vehicles that are technologically very sensitive and have the potential to be damaged if filled with fuel that is not in accordance with the engine technology requirements.