[Kabar-indonesia] RI hopes to gain from cleaner air

[Joyo at aol.com]

The Jakarta Post
Wednesday, November 1, 2006

RI hopes to gain from cleaner air

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia may soon reap millions of dollars from wealthier
countries as a result of its greenhouse gas emissions
reduction programs.

The government has so far approved eight so-called clean
development mechanisms (CDM), which are designed to achieve
up to 1.5 million tons of carbon reduction per year.

A one-ton reduction in carbon dioxide is worth between US$7
and $8.

An official at Indonesia's Designated National Authority
(DNA) on CDM, Prasetyadi Utomo, said six projects had been
registered with the Executive Board of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change in New York.

"The project participants are now waiting for final
verification from the Board before issuing a certificate,"
he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

The emissions reduction certificate will then be traded to
industrial countries, who are obligated to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol.

One of the participants is PT Petromat Agrotech, which is
promoting a solar cooker project in Aceh. PT Indocement
Tunggal Prakarsa Tbk has two projects, one involving blended
cement and another promoting alternative fuel, in Cibinong
and Palimana, West Java. PT Multimas Nabati Asahan has a
bio-mass condensing steam turbine project in Asahan, North
Sumatra, and Riau's PT Murini Sam Sam is carrying out a
similar program. PT Indotirta Suaka's project involves
methane capture and combustion from swine manure treatment.

In addition, PT Chevron Geothermal Indonesia, Ltd has a
geothermal project in Garut, West Java, and PT Ecosecurities
Indonesia has a bio-gas project in Lampung. They are
expected to register with the Executive Board soon.

Under the Kyoto Protocol, developed nations must cut
greenhouse gas emissions by 8 percent below 1990 levels in
the period between 2008 and 2012.

Developing countries can host projects to reduce the gases.

Indonesia, which ratified the protocol, is not required to
reduce its emissions and thus is a potential host country.

The government established the DNA to approve projects
before submitting them to the Executive Board.

The State Ministry of Environment said Indonesia had the
potential to supply two percent of the global CDM market, or
the equivalent of 125 million tons of carbon dioxide.
It said the energy and industrial sector produced the
largest share -- up to 60 percent -- of total emissions in
Indonesia.

The government is now intensifying its promotion of
alternative fuels including compressed natural gas,
biodiesel and solar energy.

Fossil and coal-based fuels are believed to be the main
cause of greenhouse gas emissions, which lead to global
climate change.

An official at the ministry's climate change division, Upik
Aslia Kamil, said many developed nations had expressed
interest in buying emission credits from the country's CDM
projects, including Canada, Denmark, Austria, Japan and the
Netherlands.

CDM project participants

Companies Status Expected CO2 reduction/

crediting period

PT Petromat Agrotech registered 24,500 tCO2eq/7 years

PT Indocement Tunggal registered 4,697,497 tCO2eq/10 years

Prakarsa Tbk.

PT Indocement Tunggal registered 1,01,894 tCO2eq/7 years

Prakarsa Tbk.

PT Multimas Nabati registered 463,224 tCO2eq/7 years

Asahan

PT Murini Sam Sam registered 561,160 tCO2eq/10 years

PT Indotirta Suaka registered 1,160,000 tCO2eq/7 years

PT Chevron Geothermal approved by 4,401,236 tCO2eq/7 years

Indonesia, Ltd DNA

PT EcoSecurities approved by 218,370 tCO2eq/7 years

Indonesia DNA

TCO2eq: ton carbon dioxide equivalent

Sources: Designated National Authority (DNA) on CDM.

------------------------------------------
Joyo Indonesia News Service
------------------------------------------