The Ministry Of Industry Reveals Other Factors That Cause High Pollution On The Weekend Apart From Motorized Vehicles

Illustration of Air Pollution (Photo: dock. Antara)

The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) said that air quality in the Jabodetabek area (Jakarta, Bogor, Bekasi, Tangerang, and Depok) on Saturday, September 2 until 11.00 WIB was reported as the worst when compared to conditions throughout August 2023.

The IQAir website shows the air quality index in the Jakarta area is 168 (unhealthy) and the Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 concentration reaches 19.3 times the annual air quality guide value of the World Health Organization (WHO). This condition occurs on the morning of the weekend, when people's mobility using motorized vehicles is much reduced compared to working days.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry, Febri Hendri Antoni Arif, said that high pollution on weekends was not caused by motorized vehicle factors.

"This indicates the need to be studied more deeply whether motorized vehicles are the biggest contributors to air pollution. It is estimated that there are other factors outside of transportation that cause air quality on weekends to be quite bad, the same as on weekdays," said Febri in an official statement in Jakarta, quoted Monday, September 4.

Based on data from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), the largest air pollution came from vehicles, which amounted to 44 percent, then 34 percent came from Steam Power Plants (PLTU), then from households and other sources.

Febri said, to support the control of exhaust emissions in the industrial sector, according to the direction of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in a limited meeting (Ratas) and coordination meeting (Rakor) involving all ministries/agencies, the Ministry of Industry has identified this problem and taken several steps.

First, forming an inspection team for controlling exhaust gas emissions in the industrial sector in the DKI Jakarta, Banten and West Java Provinces. In carrying out their duties, the inspection team has carried out identification and planning steps related to the inspection system, ranging from data collection, monitoring, to field visits.

"Several business activities that have been in the spotlight have been monitored, and one industrial company suspected of polluting the environment has been directly inspected," said Febri.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Resilience, Region, and International Industrial Access of the Ministry of Industry, Eko S. A. Cahyanto, added that the company's exhaust emissions were far below the threshold, although there were administrative problems that needed to be resolved.

The results of monitoring carried out by the inspection team on Monday, August 28, in the industrial group of non-metallicity and steel industry in the Jabodetabek area showed that the company had complied with all laws and regulations related to their activities that had an impact on the environment.

In addition, measurement results show that their emissions remain below the threshold.

Then, the Ministry of Industry has issued Circular (SE) of the Minister of Industry Number 2 of 2023 concerning Reporting on Control of Industrial Sector Exhaust Gas Emissions in the Special Region of the Capital Region of Jakarta, West Java Province, and Banten Province.

The SE is intended as a basis and reference for reporting exhaust emissions control in the industrial sector for industrial companies and industrial estate companies in the region.

In its implementation, the industry conducts regular reporting every once a week on Thursday through the National Industrial Information System portal (www.siinas.kemenperin.go.id) in accordance with reporting procedures as stated in the SE Menperin attachment.

In the period of August 31, 2023, as many as 1,008 industrial companies and 17 industrial estate companies in the DKI Jakarta, West Java, and Banten areas reported. The company reported, among others, issued emissions, used buyers, B3 and non-B3 waste, as well as emission control tools used.

The next step is to coordinate with various relevant ministries/agencies, such as the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, and local governments.

"Handling emission control is the focus of the Ministry of Industry's attention in order to maintain the industrial business climate. Environmental conditions are part of the integral in promoting investment in Indonesia and increasing international cooperation in the industrial sector," concluded Eko.