Demak explores cooperation with investor to process landfill waste into RDF

The Government of Demak Regency, Central Java, is exploring cooperation with an investor to process waste at the final disposal site (TPA) into refuse derived fuel (RDF), an alternative fuel to replace coal. Demak Regent Eisti’anah stated on Thursday that with the regency’s population reaching 1.2 million, the waste potential ranges from 400 to 600 tonnes per day, which is quite sufficient to support waste processing into RDF as a solution to reduce waste accumulation at the TPA. She noted that processing waste into RDF is more feasible than waste-based power generation, as a power plant requires a minimum capacity of around 1,000 tonnes of waste per day, whereas 400 to 600 tonnes per day is viable for RDF. The regency is currently exploring cooperation with PT Petronisia Internasional, which expressed interest after Demak participated in the Investment Challenge organised by the Central Java Provincial Government. Eisti’anah expressed hope that the relationship could be followed up to find solutions for waste management in Demak. Despite this, the regency government continues efforts to curb the volume of waste entering the TPA by raising public awareness and strengthening waste management at the village and sub-district levels, aiming for each sub-district to have a TPS3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Waste Processing Site). After securing second place, the proposal was offered to several waste management investors. PT Petronisia Internasional has conducted a presentation at the Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda) and a field survey, and the regency is now waiting for their follow-up action. The investor plans to process waste into RDF, which will be utilised as an alternative fuel to partially replace coal for the cement industry. The RDF processing is planned to be located at the Berahan Kulon TPA area, which spans around 25 hectares; currently, only about 8 hectares are used, leaving ample space for facility development. Suyanto added that all investment, from processing equipment to waste transport fleets, will be prepared by the investor, while the regency government will only provide licensing facilitation and policy support. Currently, the volume of waste entering the Demak TPA is about 175 tonnes per day. To meet the RDF raw material requirement of around 400 tonnes per day, the investor also plans to increase the waste transport fleet.