West Papua explores waste-to-energy cooperation with China

Manokwari (ANTARA) - The West Papua provincial government is exploring cooperation opportunities with Chinese investors for waste-to-energy (WTE) projects valued at approximately $300 million or over Rp5 trillion. West Papua Deputy Governor Mohamad Lakotani, in an official statement received in Manokwari on Tuesday, said investors have shown serious interest in developing a waste-to-energy power plant (PLTSa). The investment scheme is designed to minimise the provincial government’s financial burden through funding, technology, engineering, and operational support from the Chinese partner. ‘I met with Chinese investors in Jakarta last Friday (23 May) to discuss waste-to-green energy cooperation,’ he said. Urban waste will be converted into electricity, which will then be sold to PLN for distribution to the public under a profit-sharing arrangement between the company and local government. ‘The technical details of profit-sharing will be discussed in detail at the next stage before the cooperation agreement is signed,’ Lakotani explained. He assessed the project as strategically significant, as it not only provides a long-term solution for urban waste management but also increases the supply of clean energy and creates job opportunities.