Transportation problem hampers industries' plan to use more coal

The country’s textile producers cautiously welcome the government’s program to push industries to use more coal instead of fuel oil amid soaring oil prices, but the lack of knowledge about the commodity as energy alternative and the lack of transportation facilities could hamper the program, Kompas reported on Tuesday.

Lili Asdjudiredja, the chairman of the West Java chapter of the Association of the Indonesian Textile Producers said in Bandung on Monday that many textile producers in the province had converted to coal in order to reduce operation costs resulting from the sharp increase in the fuel prices.

But the lack of knowledge about coal might lead to resentment over the use of the energy in the textile factories, he said. “Many people still regard that coal as major source of pollution,” he said in a discussion on the use of coal as alternative energy in Bandung on Monday, which was also attended by Minister of Industry Andung Mitihardja and State Minister of Environment Rachmat Witoelar.

In addition to the lack of knowledge, the poor transportation facilities could also affect the supply of the coal, he said. “Such problems have impeded the government’s program to use coal as an alternative energy in industrial activities,” he added.

Andung and Witoelar said that they understood the problems and promised to give more education to the people on the possible impact of the coal burning on the environment. Witoelar said that if coal is used properly according to the standard set by the government, its impact on the environment could be minimized. (*)