Pertamina to build 30 MW waste-to-energy plant in Yogyakarta

Jakarta (ANTARA) - State-owned energy giant PT Pertamina is developing a new waste-to-energy (PSEL) plant in Yogyakarta, with a projected capacity of 30 megawatts (MW).

"Pertamina has been tasked with managing waste for Yogyakarta, Sleman, and Bantul, an area generating over 1,000 tons of waste per day," Pertamina's Director of Business Transformation and Sustainability, Agung Wicaksono, announced at the Waste to Energy Talks event in Jakarta on Thursday.

To process the massive volume of daily waste, Pertamina will deploy advanced incinerator technology to convert rubbish into electricity, which will then be fed directly into the state electricity company PT PLN's regional grid.

Wicaksono explained that incinerator technology was selected because of its rapid waste-reduction capabilities and its ability to strictly regulate exhaust emissions, including toxic dioxins.

"This incinerator technology has the capacity to handle it, because with this technology, we can ensure that the waste problem does not turn from a landfill into an airborne problem," he said.

He added that proper waste sorting at the source remains crucial, as better-sorted waste will optimize processing efficiency and minimize technical challenges at the plant.

To ensure seamless operation, Pertamina plans to collaborate with international partners to implement the PSEL technology and facilitate technology transfer to local Indonesian workers.

The waste-to-energy project is part of Pertamina's "dual growth" and "dual-track" strategy, which aims to maintain its core oil and gas operations while simultaneously building low-carbon, environmentally focused businesses.

"In addition to dual growth, we are also addressing dual-track issues: addressing ecological problems with economical solutions, by turning waste into something economical," Wicaksono said.

The project also showcases a strong synergy between state-owned enterprises (SOEs), with Pertamina acting as the developer and PLN serving as the primary electricity off-taker.

Under Presidential Regulation No. 109 of 2025, the government has set the purchase price for PSEL electricity at US$0.20 per kilowatt-hour under a 30-year power purchase agreement.

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Translator: Aria Ananda, Yashinta Difa

Editor: Arie Novarina

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