Pertamina Strengthens Clean Energy Ecosystem, Converting Waste into Low-Carbon Hydrogen
PT Pertamina (Persero) is strengthening its commitment to clean energy development through the signing of a Joint Agreement with the West Java Provincial Government to utilise waste for the production of low-carbon hydrogen, biomethane, and biofuel. This collaboration serves as a step towards building an integrated hydrogen ecosystem while supporting the energy transition and resolving waste management issues in West Java. The agreement covers various strategic areas, ranging from the development of new and renewable energy to environmental management and community empowerment.
Emma Sri Martini, Director of Strategy, Portfolio, and Business Development at PT Pertamina (Persero), stated that a primary focus of the cooperation is the plan to utilise methane sourced from the Sarimukti landfill in West Bandung Regency. Through this collaboration, biogas derived from waste will be purified into biomethane and subsequently processed into hydrogen, as part of a waste-to-scale energy development effort.
According to Ms Martini, the project represents a synergy within the Pertamina Group to create an integrated clean energy value chain from upstream to downstream. The programme will be executed alongside Pertamina’s New & Renewable Energy (PNRE) sub-holding and the Gas sub-holding, with each entity managing responsibilities ranging from feedstock provision and processing to infrastructure development, distribution, and product commercialisation.
Ms Martini explained that the collaboration also involves international partners, including Hyundai from South Korea, as part of an effort to accelerate the development of low-carbon energy technology. She expressed hope that this programme would serve as a pilot for building a hydrogen ecosystem in Indonesia, which could be replicated in other regions if successful.
Simultaneously, the West Java Provincial Government conducted the groundbreaking ceremony for the Waste-to-Electricity Project (PSEL) at the Legok Nangka waste processing area. Once operational, the facility is designed to process approximately 2,000 tonnes of waste per day into electricity with a capacity of around 40 MW, while supporting the production of hydrogen and biomethane. This facility is expected to alleviate the burden on the Sarimukti landfill, which is currently the primary waste management site for the Greater Bandung area.
The Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Yuliot Tanjung, noted that the construction of the Legok Nangka PSEL is part of the government’s effort to accelerate clean energy provision and solve waste problems. The facility is targeted to begin operations in 2029, with a generation capacity of approximately 40 MW and an estimated workforce of 1,500 people, promoting a circular economy through waste-to-energy conversion.
The Governor of West Java, Dedi Mulyadi, stated that the development of the Legok Nangka PSEL will strengthen West Java’s position as a major hub for clean energy development in Indonesia, with plans to expand similar facilities to other regions in the province.