Jakarta Air Pollution Mostly Caused by Motorized Vehicles: Agency

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The acting head of Jakarta Environment Agency, Andono Warih, said that the fuel (BBM) residue of motorized vehicles was the main contributor to severe air pollution as 80 percent of vehicles powered by diesel fuel operated from Jakarta Greater Area (Jabodetabek) to the capital.

According to Andono, fuel quality significantly influenced air pollution in the city. “So if we have a good quality of fuel, the better our air will be,” said Andono in JSC Hive, Setiabudi, South Jakarta, Thursday, June 13.

He explained that Solar and Premium-branded fuel produced residue containing high sulfur and that the best fuel in Indonesia is Pertamax. The indicator is the octane number; Pertamax (92 octanes), Premium (88 octanes), and Pertalite (92 octanes)

Fuels having octane number below Pertamax' produce high residue which leads to pollution. “What I mean is, the best quality fuel will produce lower residue, whereas Premium or Solar still has high sulfur content.”

Previously, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said that the declining air quality in the capital city caused by vehicles and coal-fired power plant.

Andono did not deny Anies’ statement that the power plant located outside of the capital potentially cause public pollution. Yet, he opined, motorized vehicles were still the most contributor to air pollution.

LANI DIANA WIJAYA

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