In another bid to clean up Jakarta's notoriously polluted air, the city administration is looking to clear the streets of fume-spewing vehicles.

Beginning on Feb. 4, all vehicle owners extending their vehicle registration fee (STNK) will be required to produce emission certificates within standards.

The City Environmental Management Board (BPLHD), which is implementing the requirements under bylaw No. 2/2005 on air pollution control, said Monday the administration had selected auto workshops with the equipment and technicians to conduct the tests.

"There are currently 239 certified technicians who will run the tests at 115 auto workshops in Jakarta," PBLHD chief Kosasih Wirahadikusumah said.

Currently, 80 of the workshops are ready to issue certificates.

"The remainder will follow suit. Hopefully before Feb. 4, all workshops will be certified and gain our accreditation to do the emission test."

The first emission tests will focus on private cars, while the tests on motorcycles will be delayed for a month.

"All vehicles, including motorcycles, will be tested but we may need about a month to formulate emission standards on the motorcycles," he said.

The administration has set a maximum fee of Rp 50,000 (US$5) for the test, although it may vary among the workshops. The city is also considering the appointment of independent auditors to prevent corruption and the manipulation of test results, Kosasih added.

The bylaw also bans smoking in enclosed public places and requires public transportation and government vehicles to use compressed natural gas (CNG).

"We want to make Jakarta's air clean both indoors and outdoors," Kosasih said.

He said the administration had signed a memorandum of understanding for CNG production with state oil and gas company Pertamina, and state gas distributor PT Perusahan Gas Negara on gas supply for public vehicles.

The agency earlier said vehicle emissions account for up to 70 percent of air pollution in the city. The remaining 30 percent comes from industrial emissions.

Jakarta ranks the third most polluted city after Mexico City and Bangkok, with over four million cars on its streets every day. At present only cargo vehicles and public transportation vehicles are required to have vehicle emission tests.

Long-term exposure to air pollution -- especially carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide and particulate -- can adversely affect a person's respiratory and nervous systems.

Source: Jakarta Post