This article has been translated by PwC Indonesia as part of our Indonesia Infrastructure News Service. PwC Indonesia has not checked the accuracy of, and accepts no responsibility for the content.
Bisnis Indonesia - Pembangkit Listrik tenaga sampah: Jakarta belum menyerah
18 June 2025
By Jessica Gabriela Soehandoko & M. Fatkhul Maskur
The Jakarta Provincial Government has once again revived the discourse on developing waste-to-energy power plants (PLTSas), a project that has failed to materialise optimally despite being initiated across five gubernatorial administrations.
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has expressed readiness to construct four PLTSa facilities simultaneously. He stated that the electricity generated from these plants would be distributed through the state-owned electricity company, PLN.
"Who will purchase the electricity? Of course, it will be channelled through PLN," Pramono said at Jakarta City Hall on Monday (16 June).
He also mentioned that Jakarta could learn from other countries' experiences in managing PLTSas, such as Singapore, Vietnam, and China, to ensure successful implementation.
"With the experiences in Singapore, Hanoi, and especially China, PLTSas can now be effectively implemented in Jakarta and across Indonesia," he said.
Pramono noted that Jakarta produces around 7,700 tonnes of waste daily, which could support the project. "We are fully prepared to follow up on the directives from the President."
He added that with PLTSas, the issue of tipping fees for waste disposal would no longer be necessary. Moreover, PLTSas offer potential revenue from waste management.
According to him, PLTSa technology is no longer as sophisticated as it once was and now falls under the medium category, making it accessible for broader use.
Pramono said the PLTSa plan is currently awaiting central government regulations. "Firstly, we are waiting for a presidential regulation. But in principle, as per the President’s directive, whether there will be five or four PLTSa facilities, Jakarta is ready."
Jakarta had previously initiated the Intermediate Treatment Facility (ITF), a waste processing facility based on converting waste into electrical energy, during Governor Fauzi Bowo’s administration in 2009.
At the time, the Rp1.3 trillion project was tendered, but no winner was announced before the gubernatorial transition to Joko Widodo. His successor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok), even suspected irregularities in the project.
Nevertheless, Ahok planned to build ITFs in 2016 at four locations: Sunter, Marunda, Cakung, and Semanan, with a project budget of Rp1.2 trillion. The groundbreaking for the Sunter ITF only occurred during Governor Anies Baswedan’s term in late 2018. However, the project was cancelled in 2023 under Acting Governor Heru Budi Hartono.
Jakarta is one of the 12 cities listed for accelerated development of environmentally friendly waste-to-energy facilities, as outlined in Presidential Regulation No. 35 of 2018. Other cities include Tangerang, Semarang, Surakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, Denpasar, Palembang, and Manado. Like Jakarta, most of these cities have yet to realise PLTSa projects, except Surabaya and Surakarta.
Surabaya has operated the Benowo PLTSa since 30 November 2015, while Surakarta’s Putri Cempo PLTSa began operations on 30 October 2023.
The Surakarta PLTSa took around seven years to become operational. The national project began in 2016 when PT Solo Citra Metro Plasma Power (SCMPP) was entrusted by the Solo City Government to build the PLTSa infrastructure.
Putri Cempo PLTSa relies on waste supplies from Sukoharjo, Boyolali, Sragen, Wonogiri, and Klaten Regencies.
Solo’s PLTSa processes 545 tonnes of waste daily and generates around 8 megawatts of electricity. Approximately 5 megawatts are sold to PLN for distribution to its customers, while the remainder is used internally. Meanwhile, Benowo PLTSa in Surabaya contributes up to 166.1 gigawatt hours (GWh) of clean energy.
Benowo PLTSa comprises two power plants: one with a 1.65 MW capacity using a sanitary landfill system, and another using a gasification/zero waste system with a 9 MW capacity.
"The Benowo PLTSa is a tangible example of collaboration between PLN and the Surabaya City Government to support environmentally friendly electricity technology," said Ahmad Mustaqir, General Manager of PLN East Java Distribution Unit, on Monday (21 April).
At Benowo PLTSa, around 600 tonnes of waste are processed daily using methane gas generation through a gas power plant, producing 1.65–2 megawatts of electricity.
Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono praised the efforts of the Surabaya City Government and East Java Provincial Government in promoting waste management technology. He described Benowo PLTSa as a model worth emulating in other regions.
"This shows that the facility in Benowo, Surabaya, is one of the best models in Indonesia for addressing waste issues in major cities," he said during a visit to Benowo PLTSa on Wednesday (16 April).
30 cities
Despite the sluggish progress in developing waste-to-energy facilities, akin to the pace of a slow loris, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) remains confident in its plan to convert waste into electricity and fuel oil in 30 cities by 2029.
“We are targeting around 30 major cities. Each city has the potential to generate approximately 20 megawatts of electricity,” said Deputy Minister of MEMR, Yuliot Tanjung, on Wednesday (12 March).
He explained that converting waste into electricity and fuel oil can be achieved through integrated management using advanced technology.
Currently, the government is working to consolidate three presidential regulations related to waste management to support efforts in converting waste into energy through PLTSas.
The President has instructed several ministers—Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, and Head of the Investment Management Agency Danantara Rosan Perkasa Roeslani—to coordinate and expedite the resolution of waste-related issues.
“The President has set a target in his National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) for the waste issue to be resolved by 2029. Therefore, we have formulated strategies through various approaches,” Hanif Faisol said, as quoted by Antara on Wednesday (11 June).
He added that waste management will be handled through assignments to BPI Danantara and PT PLN, while local governments will be responsible for preparing PLTSa facilities. Additionally, the financing scheme will undergo a significant transformation. Previously, incentives were provided through tipping fees—payments made by the government to waste processors—but going forward, direct subsidies will be offered in the form of electricity purchases from PLTSas.
“The President expects all waste management permits to be completed by 2025,” he said.
Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, Head of BPI Danantara, expressed readiness to invest in regional waste-to-energy projects. Danantara will also invite private sector participation in these initiatives.
Support from the central government and Danantara has reignited optimism for PLTSa development. As Indonesia’s wealthiest province, Jakarta is deemed unfit to give up on realising the PLTSa project.
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