Jakarta Sanctions Two Factories on Charges of Air Pollution

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Environment Agency has imposed sanctions for two companies in East Jakarta today, August 8, on charges of polluting the capital city through their factory chimneys.

The agency head Andono Warih said the sanction is given during the city administration’s sudden inspection as an effort to curb air pollution to PT Mahkota Indonesia and PT Indonesia Acid Industry.

“The laboratory test results on the chimney [of PT Mahkota Indonesia] shows that it exceeds the quality standard for sulfur dioxide (SO2) parameter,” said Andono today in the chemical manufacturer, East Jakarta.

PT Indonesia Acid, the manufacturer of sulphuric acid, is also subjected to the sanction. Therefore, the two companies are obliged to recover their chimneys within the next 45 days.

Andono reiterated that the two factories’ chimneys have been examined and proved to produce emissions that exceed the quality standards set in the Environment Ministerial Regulation No. 13/2009 concerning the emission standard for the factory.

Additionally, the chimney did not meet the requirements stipulated in Jakarta Gubernatorial Regulation No. 670/2000. “This inspection is a follow up of the Gubernatorial Instruction No. 66/2019 on air quality control,” he said.

Andono went on to say that should the manufacturer neglect the sanction which is still in the form of warning and recommendation, a more severe sanction will be issued such as environmental license suspension, license revocation, up to criminal charges.

IMAM HAMDI