Padang and South Korea Explore Waste-to-Energy Green Partnership

RRI.CO.ID, Padang - The Padang City Administration in West Sumatra is exploring cooperation with South Korea to transform waste-related challenges into sources of economic value. The cooperation would be supported by technology, renewable energy, and sustainable investment.

The exploration of the potential partnership was undertaken by Padang Deputy Mayor, Maigus Nasir, together with a delegation from the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI) and its strategic partner consortium.

The proposed cooperation would not be limited to waste management, but would also cover waste-processing technologies and the utilization of methane gas as a source of renewable energy. Additionally, it encompasses sustainable environmental development and potential investment opportunities.

Maigus said KEITI’s presence offered Padang an opportunity to gain access to technology and investment that could strengthen the city’s environmental management system.

According to Maigus, the local administration wanted to change the way people viewed waste. Waste should not be regarded solely as a problem to be addressed, but also as a resource that could generate economic value while supporting more sustainable urban development.

“We want waste management in Padang in the future not only to address the problem, but also to generate economic value and support the realization of Padang as the cleanest and most sustainable city,” said Maigus in Padang on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

He added that opportunities for collaboration were also open in other sectors, including tourism, the economy, investment, education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

The Padang City Administration and the KEITI delegation will subsequently conduct on-site assessments of several potential areas. The step is needed to map local requirements and determine the most feasible forms of cooperation for follow-up.

“Most importantly, this cooperation must not stop at discussions, but must be realized through programs that benefit the community,” he said, as quoted by infopublik.id.

KEITI’s Chief Representative in Indonesia, Kang Min Soo, explained that KEITI was an institution representing Korea’s Ministry of Environment. The institute’s role is to connect Korean companies with various environmental improvement projects in Indonesia.

He said KEITI could help match the needs of local administration with Korean companies possessing the technology and investment capacity required in the environmental sector. “We hope cooperation with the Padang City Administration can be established soon and implemented in concrete terms,” said Kang Min Soo.

The exploratory meeting was also attended by Padang Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Agency Head, Fauzan Ibnovi; Tourism Agency Head, Yenni Yuliza; Cooperation Division Head, Otto Sarbi MT Damanik; and officials from the Padang City Environmental Agency.

Through this initiative, Padang is seeking to expand its international partnerships to accelerate technology-based environmental management while creating opportunities for green investment. The effort is expected to strengthen the local economy without compromising environmental sustainability. ***