Prabowo targets completion of WtE plants in 34 cities within two years

The administration of President Prabowo Subianto plans to complete the development of waste-to-energy (WtE) power plants in 34 cities within two years, as part of efforts to tackle the country’s mounting waste problem.

The initiative will be implemented through Danantara, the country’s sovereign wealth fund, which has been tasked with overseeing national strategic projects in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

Prabowo said massive piles of waste have accumulated in major cities such as Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, and Bali, reaching tens of millions of tons per year.

“At Bantar Gebang (Bekasi, West Java), for example, I received reports that waste piles have reached around 55 million tons. If heavy rains occur, it could pose serious danger to nearby communities,” Prabowo said at a press conference following a limited cabinet meeting on Monday.

He added that the government will move quickly to construct waste-based power plants in strategic cities to improve public health and cleanliness.

Read also: Govt to subsidize electricity from waste-to-energy projects

“God willing, we will complete 34 plants within two years. This is about hygiene and health. How can we expect tourism to grow if Bali cannot clean up its waste? Imagine—would tourists come to a dirty place?” Prabowo said.

The plan follows the recent issuance of Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 109/2025 on Urban Waste Management Through Environmentally Friendly Waste-to-Energy Technologies, which provides a legal framework for developing the projects.

Earlier on Monday, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said his ministry would facilitate permits and pricing mechanisms for the projects, while Danantara will be prioritized as the main operator.

“The Presidential Regulation on waste-to-energy has been issued, and we’re ready to move forward. The projects will be prioritized under Danantara’s management,” Bahlil said at the HIPMI–Danantara Business Forum in Jakarta.

Danantara’s Chief Investment Officer Pandu Sjahrir said previously more than 100 domestic and foreign companies, grouped into 70 consortia, have expressed interest in investing in the waste-to-energy projects, which are estimated to require around Rp 91 trillion (US$5.5 billion) in total investment.

The first phase will cover 10 major cities, including Jakarta, Tangerang, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Semarang, Surabaya, Bali, and Makassar. Each facility is expected to process around 1,000 tons of waste per day, producing electricity and other forms of renewable energy.

Indonesia generated 56.6 million tons of waste in 2023, but only 39 percent was properly managed, while the remainder was dumped in open landfills, causing pollution and health risks. The government views the waste-to-energy program as a strategic solution to urban waste emergencies and a step toward strengthening national energy resilience.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak