RASTRA SAROENGALLO
Fahad Nahdi
Alvi Syachrin
Widya Sri-wahyuni
IPMI International Business School
Amelia Naim Indrajaya
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Halon is considered to be a dangerous substance if released to the earth atmosphere. Basically, Halon is a CFC (Chlorofluorocarbon) type of gas. Due to the hazard of this substance, an international event was held to limit the usage of this toxic substance. As a result, the production of halon gasses was put to a stop on the 1st of January 1994 as agreed internationally worldwide on the Montreal Protocol.
Although the production of Halon gases has been officially forbidden internationally, the usage of this Halon gas is allowed for certain areas, such as military, aviation, and nuclear uses where the superior fire suppression characteristics of Halon are still critical. The Indonesian Halon Bank has developed systems that allow Halon to be safely used and stored.
Remaining Halon users exist in most countries and include commercial aviation, the military sector, and some applications in IT, banking, telecommunications, oil & gas, etc. The use of Halon may continue for several decades especially in cases where the vehicle/space configuration was designed specifically for Halon (and cannot be changed). Halon banking is a critical part of the management of Halon and is essential for the remaining sectors that must continue to rely upon this chemical.
The Indonesian government has a mandate from the World Bank to develop an International Halon Bank and must have a facility equipped with a management system that controls and organizes the remaining Halon in Indonesia. The Indonesian government through the Ministry of Environment has appointed Garuda Maintenance Facility (GMF AeroAsia) to be the operator in Indonesia.
“We are trying to increase our contribution to ozone protection program. In addition to the Indonesia government program, this program is also aligned with the international aviation organizations mission such as IATA and ICAO to participate in saving the environment from industrial damage,” according to Tagor an Environmental Engineer working with Halon Bank.
As agreed, GMF AeroAsia will maintain the inventories of Halon in Indonesia, manage the usage of the substance, recycle the substance, and sell the recycled version. GMF AeroAsia has purchased the special machine to do the recycling of the gasses.
GMF AeroAsia has committed to make the Halon Bank part of its integrated CSR activities. It built a 500 square meter of facility located in the GMF AeroAsia area on Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta. This facility has the ability to perform following procedures:
The Indonesian government through the Ministry of Environment appointed Garuda Maintenance Facility (GMF AeroAsia) to be the operator in Indonesia. This designation is in line with the huge needs of the airlines industry for Halon gases which can’t yet be replaced with any other type of agent. Since the agent itself is not produced anymore the existing supply must be safely managed and recycled. That’s what Halon Bank is all about.
The purpose of this innovation is to reduce threat/chance of ozone damage and to maintain Halon resources until it can be replaced by some other agent.
Creating the Holon Bank protects the environment and controls the storage and use of the toxic gas.
GMF AeroAsia has managed to limit and recycle the dangerous substance so that it will not be released into the atmosphere so a better world with cleaner ozone is created.
From the business perspective, GMF has been able to provide a profitable service to several airlines to fulfill their need for Halon Gas.
GMF will able to manage their Halon supply up to 2020. Within this interval they hope a replacement is found which is safer for the environment but as powerful as Halon for extinguishing fires.
GMF AeroAsia has committed that this type of CSR must be able to run sustainably and independently so it wouldn’t burden the company but on the contrary, it should benefit the company, environment, as well as the society.
Operating the Halon Bank has been a profitable service for GMF AeroAsia’s Gas and Emergency Shop since October 2014.
The Halon contains the chemical element bromine (Br) and chlorine (Cl). The characteristics of Halon and other human-made chemicals that can deplete ozone enable them to reach the stratosphere, where they break down and the Cl and Br from that can destroy ozone. The Indonesia Halon Bank is working to control and recycle the dangerous substance in Indonesia, so that there will be fewer dangerous substances being released to the environment.
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Tagor, Environmental Engineer of PT GMF-AeroAsia
