Processing or convert waste into electricity is a solution to energy limitations and an answer to waste management. The Waste Power Plant (PLTSa) processes waste into heat energy, turning turbines to produce electricity from the waste.
In Indonesia, this practice is not yet common, but it has gained attention from the government. As reported by Antara, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) is targeting the development of Waste Power Plant (PLTSa) in 30 major cities over the next five years, until 2029.
“So, what we are doing with this mapping is prioritizing big cities. We are targeting around 30 major cities, each of which can produce around 20 megawatts of electricity,” Yuliot said at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Office, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
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According to him, the government is currently prioritizing major cities first. In addition to generating a larger amount of waste, big cities also require large amounts of electricity.
Yuliot also explained that they will convert waste through pyrolysis technology, later converting it into fuel. Besides electrical energy, waste can also be utilized using pyrolysis technology to produce fuel.
“Then there is the organic material that can produce Bioenergy, either in the form of biogas or biomass. We are still formulating this,” he explained.
Previously, the Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan revealed that the government was consolidating the Presidential Regulation on waste management.
The Presidential Regulations in question are:
- Presidential Regulation Number 97 of 2017 concerning national policies and strategies for the management of household waste and waste similar to household waste
- Presidential Regulation Number 35 of 2018 concerning the acceleration of the construction of waste processing installations into electrical energy based on environmentally friendly technology
- Presidential Regulation Number 83 of 2018 concerning the handling of marine waste.
Indonesia’s Waste Problem
Indonesia’s waste problem is becoming increasingly urgent because of economic growth and changes in consumption patterns, which result in higher waste production.
The latest data from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) highlights the scale of the problem, with Indonesia’s waste generation reaching 69.7 million tons in 2023.
This figure not only reflects the sheer volume of waste produced but also illustrates the complexity of the challenges faced in waste management across the country.
The Indonesian government has recognized the urgency of this issue and is working to address it through various policies and regulations.
Also based on data released by the National Waste Management Information System (SIPSN) in 2023, Indonesia’s waste management situation presents significant challenges that need to be addressed urgently.
As of July 24, 2024, data got from 290 districts/cities across Indonesia recorded that the total national waste generation had reached 31.9 million tons. Of this amount, around 63.3%, or approximately 20.5 million tons, can be properly managed through various processing and handling efforts.
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