Jakarta air pollution persists due to surrounding coal-fired industries, governor admits

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan admits that efforts to combat the city's severe air pollution face significant hurdles as long as coal-fired industries and power plants operate in its surrounding areas. He emphasized that true resolution hinges on effective coordination across the Jakarta metropolitan region.

"The main issue is how to coordinate this Jakarta agglomeration, especially with areas that still permit their industries to use coal as fuel," Baswedan stated in South Jakarta on Thursday. He believes that prohibiting coal use in these industries and power plants would yield a much larger impact in reducing Jakarta's pollution levels, citing the Suralaya coal-fired power plant in Banten as an example.

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The main issue is how to coordinate this Jakarta agglomeration, especially with areas that still permit their industries to use coal as fuel.

The governor highlighted that the provincial government has been actively implementing measures to improve air quality within the capital. These include promoting electric vehicles and enhancing public transportation, encouraging a shift from private to public transit. However, Baswedan cautioned that these internal efforts might not be fully effective if industries in suburban areas continue to rely on coal-fired power generation, which he identified as a primary source of emissions.

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So, whatever the government does within Jakarta, like creating electric cars, improving transportation, encouraging people to switch from private to public transport, I don't think it will fully solve the problem if in the suburban areas or regions surrounding Jakarta, industries are still allowed to use coal-fired power plants, because that is one of the main sources.

"So, whatever the government does within Jakarta, like creating electric cars, improving transportation, encouraging people to switch from private to public transport, I don't think it will fully solve the problem if in the suburban areas or regions surrounding Jakarta, industries are still allowed to use coal-fired power plants, because that is one of the main sources," he explained.

Looking ahead, Baswedan expressed his hope for greater involvement from the central government. He is calling for collaborative efforts to regulate these significant emission sources. "Therefore, as the Governor of Jakarta, I hope there will also be coordination with the central government so that those contributing to high emissions can be regulated together," he said.

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Therefore, as the Governor of Jakarta, I hope there will also be coordination with the central government so that those contributing to high emissions can be regulated together.