Government Accelerates Waste-to-Electricity Projects to Tackle Waste Crisis

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan is accelerating the development of 30 waste-to-electricity projects, covering 61 regencies and cities.

He said the acceleration of the waste-to-electricity (PSEL) program follows the President’s directive to address the national waste emergency.

“In accordance with the President’s directive, the PSEL program is being expedited to resolve the waste emergency,” Zulkifli stated after a limited coordination meeting in Jakarta on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

He explained that the projects were initially proposed for 34 locations, and later adjusted to 33. Several were combined into integrated service areas, resulting in 30 projects covering 61 regencies and cities. “We have completed 30 projects today, covering 61 regencies and cities,” he said.

Minister Zulkifli noted that the processing capacity reaches 14.4 million tons of waste per year, equivalent to about 22.5 percent of the national waste volume. The remaining 77.5 percent will be managed through approaches implemented in offices, markets, schools, and public facilities, with completion targeted within four years.

The government is employing various waste processing technologies, including waste-to-energy, Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF), and compost.

“Several projects have entered the tender stage, including those in Greater Denpasar, Greater Bogor, Greater Bekasi, and Yogyakarta,” he said.

Other areas, such as Palembang, South Tangerang, Makassar, and Greater Lampung, have been verified and are ready for bidding. Additional participating regions include Greater Semarang, Greater Surabaya, and Medan.

The government is targeting the start of project operations in 2027. “The first batch will be in 2027, with the others targeted for May 2028,” Minister Zulkifli said.

He added that the development of the PSEL program is part of the national waste management strategy, aimed at making waste handling more systematic and integrated. (Misni Parjiati/Lasti Martina)