Governor says Bojong plant will open next April

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Governor Sutiyoso will push for the controversial Bojong waste treatment plant in Bogor regency to open in April despite the violent opposition to the facility.

"The plant begin operating around April after the operator finishes repairing it," the Governor said on Friday at City Hall.

Plant operator PT Wira Guna Sejahtera (WSG) said earlier it would require a month to repair about Rp 8 billion (US$860,215) worth of damage done to the plant during a violent protest by residents.

Sutiyoso said his administration had received the backing of the House of Representatives to go ahead with the plant's operation.

When it is fully operational, the Bojong facility is expected to be able to handle 2,000 of the 6,000 tons of waste Jakarta produces daily.

The opening of the plant has been delayed several times by opposition from nearby residents.

A protest on Nov. 22 turned violent when residents attempted to set the plant on fire. Residents are concerned the plant will cause environmental damage and cause health problems similar to those suffered by those living near the Bantar Gebang dump in Bekasi municipality.

Police officers fired on the protesters, injuring six. Eighteen residents were tried for causing a disturbance, while six police officers received administrative sanctions.

The city administration has allocated Rp 42.3 billion in the 2005 draft budget for tipping fees for WSG.

"We have allocated the tipping fees in next year's budget because we are optimistic that the plant will be operating next year," Sutiyoso said.

City Council Commission D deputy chairman on development, Muhayar, said the council had approved the allocation of funds for the Bojong plant. However, he said the council had questioned the figure proposed by the City Sanitation Agency.

"Even if the plant is fully operational for the entire year, the city will only need about Rp 38.23 billion," he said. "We may cut the allocation to Rp 20 billion as the plant will only start operating in April."

The Bojong plant was designed as an alternative to the Bantar Gebang dump, which has been the city's main dump since 1986.

The administration originally planned to use a German-made Bale press at the Bojong plant. However, WSG decided to install incinerators instead.

Jakarta plans to develop another incineration plant next year. The proposed Rp 400 billion plant would be able to process about 3,000 tons of waste daily.