Inp.polri.go.id - Bekasi. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry’s Environmental Control Agenc is intensifying its oversight of 4,000 industrial chimneys in the Greater Jakarta area in an effort to reduce air pollution.

“We are closely monitoring around 4,000 chimneys across Jabodetabek. Administrative sanctions and technical requirements will be enforced, including mandatory installation of CEMS,” said Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq during a site inspection in Bekasi, West Java, on Thursday (12/6/2024).

CEMS, or Continuous Emission Monitoring System, is a real-time emissions monitoring tool connected to the ministry’s centralized system.

The initiative comes amid declining air quality in Jakarta and surrounding areas. Supervision efforts involve both the national ministry and local governments.

During the inspection, Minister Hanif ordered the shutdown of a metal smelting facility pending improvements to its emission controls and compliance with regulations, as reported by antaranews.com.

He also called on industries using boilers to shift from coal to cleaner energy sources like gas. KLH has encouraged industrial estate managers to install their own air quality monitoring stations.

Non-compliance may lead to not only administrative penalties but also criminal prosecution, the minister warned.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)