In this seminar, CGS Research Assistant Drashti Amin will share research on the impacts of industrial park activity on air pollution in Indonesia.
Abstract: Countries endowed with mineral resources are central to the global energy transition, yet their fossil fuel–intensive processing and refining sectors generate substantial emissions, complicating efforts toward sustainable decarbonization. Countries such as Indonesia, given their global leadership in reserves, mining, and refining capacity, may face particularly significant environmental impacts from this industry. This study examines the local air quality impacts of nickel processing due to their and associated captive coal power plants based at industrial parks in Indonesia using NO2 data retrieved from TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI). Among all industrial parks across the country, those focused on nickel processing exhibit the highest increase in average tropospheric NO2 in 2023 as compared to 2019. Our findings indicate a 3 to 6 times higher pollution level since the operation of these industrial parks began. Additionally, maximum column densities occur at downwind locations and pose health risks for settlements in that area. This study aims to support air quality monitoring and management and quantify the local impacts of global energy transition efforts. This work is aimed at providing screening-level monitoring of pollution arising from nickel processing in the Industrial Parks. Satellite NO2 is not a regulatory metric but can guide the development of monitoring networks as well as air quality management plans targeted to areas being affected by this sector.