JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Main Director of the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) Indonesia Fabby Tumiwa said that Steam Power Plants (PLTU) are “silent killers” that often escape the attention of the Government and the public.
Fabby continued, air pollution from the presence of coal can cause death, as well as a large economic burden that must be borne by the whole community.
This was conveyed by Fabby in the Webinar and Report Launching Health Benefits of Just Energy Transition and Coal Phase-out in Indonesia, Tuesday (17/7/2023).
Also read: Coal PLTU Early Retirement Plans Need to Involve Local Governments
“Coal burning at the PLTU produces various pollutants, very small particles called particulate matter at 2.5 meters, sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide, and various toxic elements that have a serious impact on health,” said Fabby.
Fabby revealed that these toxic particles and element gases contribute to air pollution.
The World Health Organization (WHO) or the World Health Organization states that air pollution is one of the main health risks for humans that correlates with mobility and mortality.
This includes cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
As a cause of non-communicable disease (NCD) or diseases that are not caused by infection and transmission as well as premature death in infants, air pollution contributes to reduced work productivity.
More than that, air pollution also has an impact on increasing health costs, reducing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or gross domestic product, and causing cities to become less livable. Thus, competitiveness decreases.
“So, we need to see the impact of all this in the form of economic losses. How much is it? According to the World Bank in 2019, air pollution causes economic losses of 220 billion dollars per year or the equivalent of 6 percent of GDP, that’s for Indonesia. So, Indonesia suffered a loss of 220 billion dollars per year,” said Fabby.
Therefore, a study launched by IESR Indonesia and CREA found that by 2022, air pollution at PLTUs in Indonesia is responsible for 10,000 deaths per year and losses of US$7.4 billion or the equivalent of Rp.110 trillion.
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2023-07-18 10:00:00
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