JAKARTA TANJUNG PRIOK (ISL News) - Deputy Minister of Transportation (Wamenhub) Suntana appreciated the commitment of PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) or Pelindo in encouraging emission reduction through the TJSL Merdeka Emisi Program, on Thursday (13/8/2026).
According to him, efforts to create more environmentally friendly transportation and logistics require collaboration between all parties involved in the port ecosystem.
Suntana expressed his appreciation during the TJSL Merdeka Emisi Vehicle Emission Checking Ceremony held by Pelindo to celebrate the 81st Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia.
"I would like to express my gratitude to the Pelindo staff for their continued active CSR (TJSL) programs, including various innovations and creations. Last year, for example, we focused on safe driving, and this year, we focused on clean energy, emission reduction, and greener ports," said Suntana.
According to Suntana, environmental protection is a shared responsibility and cannot be placed solely on one institution. The government, regulators, port operators, logistics companies, trucking companies, vehicle owners, industry, and even drivers all have a role to play in realizing a more sustainable transportation and logistics system.
"We must all contribute as much as possible together. Not just Pelindo, not just the Ministry of Transportation, not just local governments or the police, but everyone involved in our ecosystem," he said.
Suntana also linked the emissions reduction agenda to the planned implementation of the Zero Over Dimension Over Load (ODOL) policy in 2027.
According to him, the two agendas are related in promoting a safer transportation system while supporting emission reduction.
"These two programs are running in parallel. We will implement the ODOL-free program next year, in 2027," he said.
He acknowledged that implementing Zero ODOL requires collaboration because the transportation and logistics chains are interconnected. Drivers depend on vehicle owners, while vehicle owners also depend on order providers, industry, and other parties.
Meanwhile, Pelindo, through its TJSL Merdeka Emisi program, conducted emissions checks on approximately 500 operational and logistics vehicles in four cities this year: Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, and Makassar. At Tanjung Priok Port, 200 vehicles participated in the activity.
Part of Responsibility
Pelindo's Deputy President Director said the program is part of Pelindo's responsibility to ensure that port activities not only support the smooth flow of national logistics but also run sustainably.
"As a port operator, our responsibility extends beyond ensuring the smooth flow of national logistics. We must also ensure that port activities grow sustainably and benefit the environment and the community," he said.
According to him, ports are transportation and logistics hubs that handle large volumes of vehicles daily. This situation makes efforts to reduce emissions in port areas require the involvement of the entire ecosystem.
"Ports are transportation and logistics hubs that serve daily vehicle movements. Therefore, creating greener ports cannot be done solely by port operators. We need the involvement of the entire logistics ecosystem, from the government, terminal operators, trucking companies, logistics companies, service users, and drivers," he said.
Pelindo is encouraging awareness of vehicle maintenance and compliance with emissions standards to become part of the operational culture of logistics operators. Through the Emission Freedom Program, vehicle inspections are conducted as part of an effort to encourage more environmentally friendly transportation activities in port areas.
"Through the Emission Freedom Program, we want to build a joint movement so that all parties operating in the port area share a commitment to creating a logistics system that is increasingly efficient, low-emission, and sustainable," he said.
Appreciation
Meanwhile, Executive Director 2 of Pelindo Regional 2, Budi Prasetio, expressed his appreciation to all stakeholders who have provided support and been involved in the implementation of the Merdeka Emisi TJSL Program.
According to Budi, the involvement of various parties demonstrates that efforts to create a cleaner port environment are a shared interest. Therefore, the support and collaboration that has been established must be maintained and expanded.
"We express our appreciation and gratitude to all stakeholders who have supported and participated in the Merdeka Emisi Program. For us, this activity is not just about checking vehicle emissions, but also about building awareness and a shared commitment to creating a better port environment," said Budi.
Budi added that Pelindo Regional 2 is open to strengthening cooperation with all parties in the port and logistics ecosystem.
According to him, efforts to reduce emissions will yield greater results if carried out consistently and involving all parties.
"We invite all stakeholders to continue collaborating. The government, regulators, business owners, associations, trucking companies, and drivers all have a crucial role to play. If carried out together and consistently, efforts to reduce emissions and create greener ports will yield far greater benefits," he said.
The Merdeka Emisi TJSL program is part of Pelindo's commitment to implementing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and encouraging transformation towards Green Ports in various operational areas.
These efforts are carried out through various sustainability initiatives as part of the decarbonization process which is carried out in a gradual and measured manner.
Pelindo believes that greener port development cannot stand alone but must go hand in hand with strengthening operational efficiency and the sustainability of the logistics ecosystem.
Collaboration with the government, regulators, associations, business actors, and the community is an important part of realizing this goal.
The 81st anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia also presents an opportunity for Pelindo to strengthen its commitment to creating a cleaner and healthier environment. Through the Emission Freedom Program, Pelindo hopes that more parties will participate in building a more environmentally friendly transportation and logistics system, while also supporting the realization of greener, more efficient, and more competitive Indonesian ports.
(ISL News Editorial Team/email:redaksiislnewstv@gmail.com).
