Luhut Says Waste-to-Energy Programme in Bali to be Announced Next Week

The Head of the National Economic Council (DEN), who also chairs the Government’s Digital Transformation Acceleration Committee, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, hopes that the Waste-to-Energy programme can be a solution to the waste problem in Bali. The programme will be built on a 6-hectare plot of land owned by Pelindo in the Benoa Port area, starting in April.

Luhut stated that the official announcement will be made next week. He targets the waste-to-energy process in Bali to be operational within 18 months from April 2026.

“I think it will be announced next week. We hope that within 18 months from April, Bali will begin the waste-to-energy process,” said the retired three-star general.

Luhut emphasised the need for rapid action in improving infrastructure and tourism management in Bali, given the results of a World Bank study which describes Bali as Indonesia’s ‘tourism gem’.

Therefore, issues related to infrastructure, clean water, and waste management need to be addressed urgently and comprehensively. “The problem lies in the infrastructure. I have already reported this to the Governor, so it needs to be expedited and done in an integrated manner, including water and waste management,” he explained.

Luhut said he had revealed the World Bank study when he was still serving as the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment. Luhut asked the World Bank to assess the development of tourism in Bali, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), and Mandalika in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). The result was that Bali faces the challenge of needing to strengthen its basic infrastructure.