The Ministry of Environment is sending out teams to various industrial areas, including one managed by PT Kawasan Berikat Nusantara (KBN), to deal with companies that are causing air pollution in Jakarta and its neighboring regions. Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq mentioned that this action is being taken in preparation for the upcoming dry season, when industrial boilers could worsen the air quality. The plan is to start with KBN and then move on to other industrial zones, mapping out the sources of pollution and providing guidance on how to reduce emissions.
Around 60 officers will be assigned to monitor air pollution at KBN initially, with plans to expand to other industrial areas in the future. The goal is to pinpoint the contributors to air and water pollution in the Greater Jakarta area, which is home to a high population density of 30.2 million people. While improvements in air quality may not be immediate, this monitoring process is crucial for identifying and addressing the sources of pollution in the region.
The ministry will continue to supervise the situation in the coming weeks to tackle air pollution, while also working on reducing emissions from land and forest fires. Areas like Sumatra and Kalimantan are being closely watched for land fires, as they are considered vulnerable. Indonesia is among the top 10 countries globally with the highest exposure to PM2.5 particles, with annual averages exceeding 30 micrograms per cubic meter—well above the World Health Organization’s recommended threshold of 5 micrograms per cubic meter. The ministry is urging industrial parks to set up air monitoring stations to help combat pollution in the area.
