Enviro News Asia, Pekanbaru — The Ministry of Environment and Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH) is accelerating national waste management transformation through the development of a Waste-to-Energy Power Plant (PSEL) in the Pekanbaru Raya region. The initiative follows directives from the President of Indonesia and was formalized through the signing of a cooperation agreement involving the Riau Provincial Government, Pekanbaru City, and the regencies of Pelalawan, Siak, Kampar, and Bengkalis.
Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq stated that the agreement marks a crucial administrative and technical milestone for the project’s implementation. The collaboration covers the supply and management of waste from Pekanbaru City and surrounding regencies as feedstock for electricity generation.
He emphasized that all parties must ensure consistent and sustainable implementation of their obligations under the agreement to guarantee the project’s success.
The Pekanbaru Raya PSEL is designed with a processing capacity of 1,215 tons of waste per day. With this capacity, the facility is expected to fully manage waste generated in Pekanbaru while improving waste management performance across the surrounding regions.
The project aligns with national targets outlined in the 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), which aims to achieve 63.41 percent waste management coverage by 2026 and 100 percent by 2029.
Minister Hanif stressed the need to shift away from traditional waste management systems that rely heavily on landfills. He stated that waste must be processed using environmentally friendly technologies, ensuring that only residual waste is sent to final disposal sites.
Acting Governor of Riau, S.F. Hariyanto, reaffirmed the region’s commitment to supporting the project, expressing optimism that the PSEL facility will significantly address long-standing waste challenges in the area.
Current waste management conditions in Pekanbaru Raya highlight the urgency of the project, as increasing waste volumes continue to strain landfill capacity and pose environmental risks. The adoption of large-scale, environmentally friendly technology is seen as essential to reducing landfill dependency and preventing broader environmental pollution.
Through this initiative, the government reinforces its commitment to building a modern, efficient, and sustainable waste management system. Stakeholders are expected to strengthen collaboration to ensure long-term environmental benefits and improve public health outcomes. (*)
