Bakom: Bali's PSEL project part of waste management transformation

The Head of the Government Communications Agency (Bakom) of the Republic of Indonesia, Muhammad Qodari, has stated that the start of construction for the Waste-to-Energy (PSEL) facility in Bali is part of a transformation in environmental management through the utilisation of waste as an energy source. “This project is part of the effort to provide a more sustainable solution to the waste problem, whilst optimising its use as a new, environmentally friendly energy source,” Qodari said in a statement received in Jakarta on Monday. According to him, President Prabowo Subianto has reminded that the waste issue is a shared problem that must be addressed immediately. Its handling can no longer rely on conventional methods. “If we continue to let waste pile up without integrated management, by 2028 our landfill sites will be completely paralysed due to overcapacity,” Qodari stated. Therefore, the government, through Danantara Indonesia, commenced the construction of the Denpasar Raya PSEL facility with a groundbreaking ceremony on 8 July 2026. The Rp3 trillion project is targeted to begin operations by the end of 2027. The facility is designed to process up to 1,500 tonnes of waste per day using moving grate incinerator technology, which automatically moves waste through a high-temperature combustion chamber. According to Qodari, the PSEL is estimated to be able to reduce waste volume by up to 80–90 percent whilst converting it into electrical energy. The remaining waste will be managed through a reduce, reuse, and recycle approach at the source. Qodari expressed hope that the policy would bring extraordinary dual benefits. On one hand, it cleans the environment, reduces waste piles that threaten public health, and contributes to lowering greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, the processed waste will contribute to a clean energy supply that strengthens domestic energy security sustainably, whilst reducing Indonesia’s dependence on fossil fuels. Furthermore, this project will drive the community’s economic wheel. The presence of the PSEL in Greater Denpasar will absorb around 1,200 green jobs, attract green technology investment, and create a healthy economic turnover ecosystem. “This is a tangible manifestation of a future-oriented environmental development transformation. The government is fully committed to ensuring that the construction of this facility proceeds quickly and on target,” Qodari said.