Bali waste-to-energy project to boost tourism, minister says

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia is accelerating construction of the Greater Denpasar waste-to-energy plant to strengthen Bali's tourism competitiveness, improve waste management and create a model for similar projects nationwide, Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan said.

"Bali is taking a major step toward a modern, integrated and sustainable waste management system. Better waste management will preserve environmental quality and strengthen Indonesia's tourism competitiveness," Zulkifli said in a statement Thursday.

Construction began on July 8 and is expected to take 18 months. The plant is scheduled to start operations by late 2027 with capacity to process 1,400 metric tons of waste daily.

The project implements Presidential Regulation No. 109 of 2025 and President Prabowo Subianto's directive to accelerate waste-to-energy development through streamlined regulations, faster permitting and stronger interagency coordination.

Beyond addressing Greater Denpasar's waste challenge, the project is expected to become a national model for developing waste-to-energy facilities.

State investment fund Danantara Indonesia is participating in the project, supporting the government's push to accelerate strategic infrastructure, including similar waste-to-energy plants across Indonesia.

Bali welcomed more than 16 million visitors in 2025. Tourism contributed over 65 percent of the provincial economy and generated about Rp176 trillion, equivalent to approximately US$10.8 billion, in foreign exchange earnings.

The province generates about 3,500 metric tons of waste daily, underscoring the need for a more effective waste management system.

Zulkifli said solving Bali's waste problem is essential to preserving destination quality and sustaining the island's tourism-driven economy.

"The Greater Denpasar project will become a blueprint for modern waste management through collaboration among government, business and communities," he said.

The government plans to accelerate additional waste-to-energy projects, with construction of plants in Bekasi City and Greater Bogor 1 expected to begin soon.

The expansion supports the government's target of resolving 70 to 80 percent of Indonesia's waste problem by 2029.

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Translator: Aria Ananda, Raka Adji

Editor: Rahmad Nasution

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