Reducing Vehicle Pollution, The Ministry Of Transportation Launches R49 Heavy Duty Emission Testing Laboratory

Inauguration of the R49 Heavy Duty Emission Test Laboratory in Bekasi (doc. Public Relations of the Ministry of Transportation)

JAKARTA - Exhaust gas emissions from motorized vehicles are quite high in Indonesia, especially big cities like Jakarta, which became a separate issue when it began to affect the environment and became one of the biggest factors in air pollution.

To minimize the impact of these exhaust emissions, a qualified motor vehicle exhaust emission testing system is needed. The Directorate General of Land Transportation, Ministry of Transportation, inaugurated the R49 Heavy Duty Emission Test Laboratory at the Roadworthiness and Motor Vehicle Certification Testing Center (BPLJSKB) Bekasi, West Java.

The Director General of Land Transportation, Budi Setiyadi, said that the inauguration of this facility is proof that the Directorate General of Transportation is very serious in guaranteeing motor vehicle products in Indonesia to be recognized worldwide.

"How the contribution of motorized vehicles contributes to air pollution, we saw before the pandemic people always complained, everything was caused by motor vehicle exhaust," said Budi.

According to Director General Budi, motor vehicle emissions contain carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), hydro carbon (HC), and other particles that have a negative impact on humans or the environment if they exceed certain concentration thresholds.

"We educate and make our people aware to start reducing pollution by limiting the use of private vehicles. This is the responsibility of the Ministry of Transportation. In international regulations, there are several regulations aimed at controlling the threshold for motor vehicle exhaust emissions," he explained.

Exhaust gas emission testing (doc. Public Relations Ministry of Transportation)

On this occasion, the Director of Road Transportation Facilities, Pandu Yunianto, explained that emission testing is an important part of efforts to control the environment against air pollution that comes from the number of motorized vehicles. At present, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry has established Quality Standards for Motor Vehicle Emissions for Category M, N and O in order to meet Euro IV standards.

"Thus, BPLJSKB is required to immediately make improvements and improve services in the aspects of facilities and infrastructure which include test equipment and supporting facilities as well as competent human resources," he added.

The UN R49 standard exhaust emission testing laboratory for heavy duty vehicles at BPLJSKB has equipment capable of testing exhaust emissions to the engine, with an engine power capacity of up to 400 kW with emission test standards up to EURO IV.