Taking Cues from China and Japan, Rosan Says Waste-to-Energy Plants Are Not Smelly, Even Stand in Elite Residential Areas

Minister of Investment and Downstreaming/Head of BKPM and CEO of Danantara Indonesia, Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, has emphasised that the development of Waste-to-Energy (PSEL) projects is a measure to accelerate the resolution of Indonesia’s waste problem. According to Rosan, the construction of PSEL plants aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s directive for the waste issue to be addressed immediately so it does not become a burden in the future. He assessed that waste management is not only related to electricity production but also touches on environmental aspects, public health, safety, and governance. “This waste problem is our problem that we must solve as quickly as possible, so it will not become a burden later on,” Rosan said during the signing of the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and the groundbreaking ceremony for the Denpasar Raya PSEL in Bali on Wednesday, 8 July 2026. Rosan explained that the technology applied in the PSEL project has been used in around 50 countries. The technology is capable of processing various types of waste, both new and old. Rosan said his experience visiting several PSEL facilities in China, Japan, and several other countries served as a reference for the project’s development. According to him, PSEL facilities in those countries operate in clean conditions, do not produce odours, and are even built in residential areas. He cited an example of a PSEL facility in China located in the middle of an elite residential area. Around the facility, there is also a reading garden and a recreational area for children. Rosan believes the existence of such facilities changes the public’s view of waste processing, which has long been synonymous with slum-like and smelly conditions. “The impression of waste processing being dirty, smelly, and needing to be kept away from the public is expected to change. Facilities like this can actually become clean, comfortable places, as well as educational facilities and public spaces,” Rosan explained.