Deputy Minister of Public Works Diana Kusumastuti said waste-to-energy plants, known locally as PSEL, are designed to reduce the accumulation of garbage at landfill sites by converting waste into electricity.
She said such facilities are a critical response to Indonesia’s escalating waste problem.
Many landfills are now operating beyond capacity, Kusumastuti said, largely because waste reduction, sorting and processing at the household and community levels remain inadequate.
As a result, most garbage continues to be sent directly to landfill sites without prior treatment, she told ANTARA here Friday.
“Landfills are still needed as part of an integrated waste management system, but the process must start upstream,” she said, referring to waste prevention, reduction and processing.
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That approach, she added, would cut the burden on landfills, reduce land use and lower pollution levels.
Kusumastuti said the Ministry of Public Works is coordinating closely with Danantara, other ministries, state institutions and regional governments to ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place for the technical operation of PSEL facilities.
State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi said the government will soon begin construction of waste-to-energy projects at 34 locations nationwide, marking one of the largest rollouts of such facilities in Indonesia to date.
He said the projects form part of the government’s downstreaming strategy, with groundbreakings scheduled to take place between this month and March.
“Waste-to-energy plants will be built in 34 districts and cities where waste volumes have exceeded 1,000 tonnes per day and require immediate handling,” Hadi said.
He said Indonesia’s urban areas now generate an average of more than 1,000 tonnes of waste per day in several locations, creating urgent pressure on existing disposal systems.
The government expects the PSEL program to significantly reduce environmental damage, curb greenhouse gas emissions from landfills and lower public health risks linked to unmanaged waste, while also contributing electricity to local power grids.
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Translator: Aji Cakti
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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