Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia's resort island of Bali broke ground on its first waste-to-energy plant on July 8, marking a major step in efforts to improve waste management, reduce environmental pressure and expand renewable energy generation.
The Denpasar Raya waste-to-energy project is expected to become a key part of Indonesia's strategy to address growing waste challenges on Bali, where rapid tourism growth, urbanisation and a rising population have led to increasing volumes of municipal waste.
Designed to process more than 500,000 tonnes of household waste annually, the plant will generate enough electricity to supply around 100,000 households across the island.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Pandu Sjahrir, Chief Investment Officer of Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund Danantara Indonesia, said the facility is expected to reduce landfill waste by up to 80%, cut carbon dioxide emissions by around 640,000 tonnes each year, and create approximately 1,200 green jobs in construction, operations and related waste management and energy services.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster said construction is expected to be completed within two years. He stressed that environmental protection is crucial to the island, whose economy relies heavily on tourism, adding that the project will help strengthen Bali's reputation as a cleaner and more sustainable destination for international visitors.
Indonesia's Minister of Environment Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat said the Bali project could serve as a model for other provinces. He noted that while some regions may generate electricity from waste, others could produce refuse-derived fuel (RDF) for industrial use, depending on local conditions./.
Indonesia, India expand cooperation across key strategic sectors
The two leaders agreed to intensify state visits and high-level talks, foster closer coordination through bilateral consultation mechanisms, and strengthen institutional cooperation involving think tanks and the newly formed interparliamentary friendship group.
