Makassar Residents Reject PSEL Construction in Tamalanrea, Demand AMDAL Transparency

One of the community leaders in Tamalanrea Subdistrict, Akbar, stated that the majority of residents reject the construction of the PSEL in the area. Residents are concerned that the project will impact the environment and quality of life due to its location being too close to settlements.

“Our rejection is not against the Waste-to-Energy programme, but the location. It is too close to residential areas and poses risks to the environment and health,” said Akbar in his statement on Friday (8/5/2026).

According to Akbar, residents are also disappointed because they feel they were never involved in the site selection process. They claim to have only learned of the construction plans after the decision was made.

He explained that residents’ concerns arise because the waste processing is seen as potentially causing environmental pollution. Additionally, the activity of waste transport vehicles is feared to disrupt community activities.

“This location is unsuitable. The access roads are narrow, and waste vehicles will pass through them. The impact will certainly affect the surrounding environment,” he said.

Furthermore, he demanded transparency and a comprehensive explanation from the government regarding the Environmental Impact Assessment (AMDAL) for the project. According to him, residents have the right to know the potential impacts and the mitigation steps that will be taken.

“We only want transparency. Explain openly what the impacts are and how they will be mitigated,” he stated.

Akbar also highlighted the central government’s decision, which he believes does not consider on-the-ground conditions. According to him, residents have repeatedly expressed their rejection of the PSEL construction in Tamalanrea, yet it continues to proceed.

“The central government does not know the conditions here. They do not consider the losses to residents. But they still give the opportunity to PT SUS to continue the project,” he said.

Meanwhile, Makassar DPRD member Nasir Rurung Tommo considers the residents’ concerns regarding the PSEL construction in Tamalanrea as reasonable. He supports the Makassar City Government’s proposal to relocate the project to the Antang Final Disposal Site (TPA) in Manggala Subdistrict.

According to Nasir, TPA Antang is deemed more suitable because it has ample available land. Additionally, TPA Antang also has more prepared waste management planning.

“In Antang, the land is available and the infrastructure has been planned. This will certainly facilitate the project implementation,” he said.

Additionally, Nasir highlighted the potential for increased operational costs if the PSEL is built outside the TPA Antang area. The process of transporting waste to the new location is seen as adding to the regional government’s budget burden.

“If outside the TPA, the waste transportation operational costs could reach around Rp 20 billion per year. This will certainly be an additional burden for the government,” he said.

Makassar City Government Relocates PSEL Site to Antang After Rejection by Tamalanrea Residents

The Makassar City Government previously decided to relocate the PSEL construction site to the TPA Antang area in Tamangapa Ward, Manggala Subdistrict. This was done after residents of Tamalanrea Subdistrict held a demonstration at the Makassar DPRD Office on 6 August 2025 and submitted demands to Makassar Mayor Munafri ‘Appi’ Arifuddin on 19 August 2025 and 21 October 2025.

The decision to relocate the PSEL site was further strengthened by attention from the Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs of Indonesia, Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas). Zulhas requested that the project be moved to TPA Antang.

“If here (TPA Antang) it is already provided, as a final waste disposal site, the process will be easier and access in and out is already available,” said Zulhas during his inspection of TPA Antang Makassar on Friday (6/2).

Zulhas emphasised that strategic infrastructure development must prioritise principles of prudence, public participation, and environmental sustainability. Zulhas also asked the Makassar mayor to prepare the necessary administrative documents again, including permits.

In response to Zulhas’s directive, Appi immediately prepared a re-tender for the PSEL construction after the project was decided to be relocated to TPA Antang. He emphasised that Zulhas’s directive was very clear for the PSEL construction to proceed immediately without further site changes.

“We are coordinating with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. We ensure everything starts from zero. From zero, and all processes will be restarted from the initial tender or re-tender,” said Appi during his inspection of TPA Antang, Manggala Subdistrict, on Friday (6/2).

Finance Minister Requests PSEL Site Remain in Tamalanrea

The controversy resurfaced after Finance Minister (Menkeu) Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa decided that the Makassar PSEL project would not be re-tendered in a Satgas Percepatan Program Strategis Pemerintah (P2SP) debottlenecking session on Thursday (7/5).

Purbaya requested that the national strategic project continue to be built in Tamalanrea Subdistrict by investor Shanghai SUS Environment with PT Grand Puri Indonesia (GPI) in the consortium PT Sarana Utama Synergy (SUS).

According to Purbaya, if the land is prepared by the Makassar City Government in the TPA Antang area, the process will take a long time. Meanwhile, President Prabowo wants the PSEL issue to be resolved quickly.

“No need to tender again, it’s already done (tender), just proceed. Do not complicate it further. Then you (PT SUS) implement it in the same land (Tamalanrea). We want this PSEL to proceed quickly,” said Purbaya.