Jakarta – The Ministry of Forestry and Environment (MoEF) collaborates with Pertamina to conduct a micro Weather Modification Technology (TMC) trial. The trial was done using water spray-nozzle fire and mist generator produced by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). In addition, KLHK also tested other technologies, namely water canons to gun sprayers.
A trial on top of Pertamina’s Head Office Building in Jakarta, that is already equipped with spraying facilities that are commonly used as a safety aspect in securing national vital objects was done on Sunday, 27 August. Another TMC trial using mist generators was carried out in a mobile manner on Jakarta’s main roads.
The Ministry of Environment and Forestry claims the results of the trial of spraying water from tall buildings are quite effective in reducing air pollution in Jakarta. The results show that there has been a significant decrease in the level of pollutants around the trial area. Mist generator produced by BRIN with a water capacity of 500 litres and 2,000 watts of electricity, was able to reduce PM2.5 concentration from 112 to 52.
Power plants and transport, sources of pollution
Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar said that the sources that contribute to the decline in air quality in Jabodetabek include motor vehicles at 44 per cent, coal-powered plants (PLTU) 34 per cent, households, combustion, and others.
“We have checked around 351 industries including PLTU and diesel power plants (PLTD), and managed to identify 161 sources of pollution that will be checked at six air quality monitoring stations,” Bakar said in an official statement.
She said some industries were found to consistently return ‘unhealthy’ readings on the air pollution monitor. Bakar said up to 24 August, 11 entities were subject to administrative sanctions. (Hartatik)
