By: Masayu Yulien Vinanda

Not many know the huge effect of methane gas in speeding up global warming. Studies show that methane gas increases earth temperature 21-fold faster than CO2 does. This phenomenon has triggered the invention of “methane capture” by technology experts. In order to increase knowledge concerning the technology, The State Ministry of Environment, Republic of Indonesia together with WWF-Indonesia held a seminar on technical study for environmental technology “Methane Capture” in Century Hotel, Central Jakarta, Thursday (28/05/2009).

The seminar moderated by Division Head for cleaner production of State Ministry of Environment, Republic of Indonedia, Arif Wibowo, presented three speakers from technology developers; Leo from Gikoko Kogyo Indonesia, corp., Suyoto from Navigats Organic Energy Indonesia, and Edy Darmawan from Indo Acidatama, corp.

Those three speakers presented their own technological instruments which can transform methane gas produced by waste and industrial cesspool into large scale power plant and boiler fuel (as a residue substitute). Gikoko and Navigats Organic Indonesia focused on waste management in some TPA (Waste Final Treatment Site). They put perforated pipes in the mountain of garbage to extract CH4 or methane gas. Control system and security factor are also parts of their concern. These will prevent methane gas from releasing into the atmosphere and prevent the explosion.

Meanwhile, Indo Acidatama, corp. promoted industrial cesspool management which transform cesspool into boiler fuel substituting residue. Four environmental experts as the panelists were Tri Bangun Laksono from State Ministry of Environment, Republic of Indonedia (KLH), Enri Damanhuri from Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Irhan Febiyanto from Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), and Kati Andrani from Department of Public Works (PU).

Director of Climate and Energy Program of WWF-Indonesia, Fitrian Ardiansyah, said, waste management using “methane capture” method is a new start to overcome climate change since waste is a substantial problem which worsen the impact of climate change. “It’s time to see waste in a different view, not only as source of problem but also as source of renewable energy, in this case, power energy,” Fitrian added. 

The same concern also came from Deputy Minister for Technical Infrastructure and Capacity Building Development (Deputy VII), State Ministry of Environment, Sudariyono. He expected this seminar on environmental technology study of “methane capture” would become an embryo for realizing system and technology verification mechanism in Indonesia.