Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The busway authority's reluctance to disclose the cause of the recent explosion and fire on a TransJakarta bus is throwing into doubt the introduction of eco-friendly compressed natural gas (CNG) for city public transport, environmentalists say.
The Partnership for Clean Emissions (MEB) said Saturday the failure of the busway operator to explain the incident could raise fears about the safety of CNG, jeopardizing the city's blue sky campaign.
"The issue of CNG is no longer economic. After (the busway fire) it's mostly about safety. The Jakarta administration, as the owner of the TransJakarta busway system, must explain to the public and convince them of the safety of using gas fuel," MEB secretary general John Livingstone Wuisan told The Jakarta Post.
The bus burst into flames during maintenance at the busway pool last week, injuring four mechanics.
Governor Sutiyoso said the explosion and fire was caused by human error.
The busway is the city's first project to use eco-friendly CNG fuel as part of efforts to clean up the city's severe air pollution.
The project is in line with the 2005 bylaw on air pollution control, which requires all public transport as well as the city administration's operational vehicles to switch to CNG.
A source at the administration said many of the city's vehicles have yet to switch to CNG.
The CNG project was first introduced in 1997 but public interest has remained low, partly due to the small number of service stations in the city selling CNG.
Some taxis which had previously switched to CNG have since returned to using diesel.
Jakarta is the site of the pilot project for the central government's blue sky program, which is aimed at reducing air pollution in urban areas through the use of CNG.
A source involved in city discussions over CNG, who wished to remain anonymous, said Sutiyoso has again delayed issuing an ordinance in support of the CNG project out of uncertainty over the supply of the gas.
"The draft (ordinance) has been completed. It's the second revision after Sutiyoso declined to sign it last year," the source told the Post.
The first draft of the ordinance was created by the City Mineral and Mining Agency while the second was formulated by the Environment Management Board (BPLHD), he said.
According to the BPLHD draft, public transport could use CNG, liquefied gas for vehicles (LGV) or liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Currently, only one station, in Kebayoran, South Jakarta, sells LGV. Of the 264 gas stations in Jakarta, only seven currently sell CNG.
The city has set up two stations for buses operating on the seven busway corridors.
The administration also plans to revitalize seven CNG stations to meet the demands of public transport operators.
According to the draft ordinance, the administration will award bonuses to the owners of public transport vehicles who want to switch to eco-friendly fuels.
Incentives will also be provided to businesses selling the gas and related products and to auto workshops that provide services for vehicles using gas fuels.
The draft states that sanctions would be handed out to public transportation owners who failed to switch to eco-friendly fuels.
The administration signed a contract with state gas company PGN and state oil company Pertamina to ensure the supply of CNG to Jakarta. PGN has promised to supply 600 million cubic feet of CNG per day to Jakarta.
PGN currently supplies around 87 cubic feet of CNG per day.
State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar has also pledged to help the administration resolve supply problems with CNG.
"I understand Governor Sutiyoso's decision to not issue a decree implementing the CNG program," Rachmat told reporters at a recent press conference in the Grand Kemang Hotel in South Jakarta.
The minister said he would bring the issue for discussion in Cabinet and consult with Pertamina.
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