RRI.CO.ID, Samarinda - The East Kalimantan Provincial Administration has accelerated its transition toward sustainable waste management by securing a daily supply of 1,270 tons of waste to fuel its upcoming Waste-to-Energy (PSEL) plants. This strategic move aims to bolster the national energy mix while providing a long-term solution for urban waste in two major agglomeration zones.

Head of East Kalimantan Environmental Agency’s Hazardous and Toxic Waste (B3) Management, Andi Sitti Asti Suriaty, confirmed on Monday, May 4, 2026, that the supply is divided between the Samarinda Raya and Balikpapan Raya zones. Samarinda Raya is expected to provide 710 tons daily, primarily sourced from Samarinda City and Kutai Kartanegara, while Balikpapan Raya will manage 560 tons daily from Balikpapan, coastal Kutai Kartanegara, and Nusantara Capital City (IKN).

"To ensure infrastructure readiness, a joint team from various ministries and related agencies conducted a marathon field inspection in the Balikpapan and Samarinda areas last week," said Asti, as quoted by Antara.

The verification team included representatives from the Ministry of Environment, the Home Affairs Ministry, State-owned Electricity Company PT PLN, and Danantara, which is overseeing the financial management and support for the initiative. The project follows a technical discussion and the signing of a Cooperation Agreement (PKS) facilitated by the Environmental Agency last April.

Local administrations within these zones are currently finalizing land preparation, upstream transport systems, and clean water supplies essential for the power plants' operations. According to Asti, technical reviews indicate that the proposed sites are highly suitable for physical construction due to their flat terrain and minimal vegetation.

"This national strategic project is also progressing in fulfilling legal aspects, particularly the preparation of Environmental Impact Analysis (Amdal) documents and land-use principle permits at the regency and city levels," explained Asti.

She further noted that the PSEL development is designed to integrate fully with IKN’s growth, serving as a national pilot for sustainable waste management based on source-level sorting.

The provincial administration views this integration as a vital step in creating an environmentally sound system that also offers economic benefits.

"We hope the acceleration of PSEL can strengthen the achievement of national energy mix targets while creating an environmental governance system that holds economic value for the community," concluded Asti. ***