Enviro News Asia, Semarang – Indonesia’s Minister of Environment and Head of the Environmental Control Agency, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, reaffirmed the acceleration of Waste-to-Energy (PSEL) development in the Greater Semarang area as a strategic response to large-scale waste management challenges.
The commitment was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Cooperation Agreement between the Central Java Provincial Government, the Semarang City Government, and the Kendal Regency Government. The initiative aligns with direct instructions from Prabowo Subianto to expedite waste-to-energy infrastructure development as part of efforts to address the waste emergency in Central Java.
Minister Hanif emphasized that while various waste management technologies exist, large-scale waste issues require advanced solutions. He stated that PSEL offers a strategic approach by converting waste into electrical energy, while interim efforts will focus on waste reduction through available technologies under the leadership of the provincial government.
Governor of Central Java, Ahmad Luthfi, expressed strong commitment to the initiative, highlighting a target of achieving zero waste by 2029 through systematic waste reduction and management improvements.
The Greater Semarang region, comprising Semarang City and Kendal Regency, generates approximately 1,627 tons of waste per day. The planned PSEL facility is expected to process around 1,100 tons daily, enabling more efficient waste management in Semarang and improving overall handling capacity in Kendal.
Semarang Mayor Agustina Wilujeng Pramestuti and Kendal Regent Dyah Kartika Permanasari also confirmed their readiness to support the project. Both local leaders committed to ensuring coordinated waste management systems and intensifying public campaigns on waste sorting during the development phase.
The Greater Semarang PSEL project adopts a regional agglomeration concept, integrating waste management across Semarang City and Kendal Regency. The project will be implemented collaboratively between central and local governments, alongside private sector partners, to ensure efficient and sustainable operations. (*)
