On April 12 this year, President Joko Widodo signed Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 35 of 2018, on the Acceleration of Waste Processing Installation into Electricity Based Eco-Friendly Technology.

It's a bit of a mouthful but it's an important step in the right direction as it aims to improve public health and the quality of the environment as well as turning waste into a resource. Something that Bali is keen to do especially because the technology is there and most people can see the benefits. Detailed studies have also been completed by organisations such as JFE Engineering from Tokyo. The litmus test, however, will come after the election of the new governor in June for us to see if the political will is there.

The Denpasar City Government, through the Environment and Hygiene Agency (DLHK), are taking this seriously, however, and have managed to attract 19 investors interested in converting the waste at the Suwung Tip into a 20 MW electricity power plant.

According to Nusa Bali, Head of DLHK in Denpasar, Ketut Wisada said they (the Denpasar City Government) "are ready to do what has been mandated in the new Presidential Regulation," and they are now looking to secure 10 hectares of land to use to process the waste.

Once land management rights have been issued by the Ministry of the Environment the next stage would be to develop feasibility studies and procure goods and services. Wisada suggested this could be done "with a tender or a competition system to determine a partner."

This isn't the first time the idea of turning trash into electricity in Suwung has been tried. According to Bali Post, a company called PT Navigat Organik Energy Indonesia (NOEI), were hired round 20 years ago to do this. However, because they failed to manage the waste correctly their contract was terminated in 2016 opening the door for a new approach.

Tribun claim the construction of the Waste Power Plant (PLTSa) is part of the revitalization of Suwung project, which will include, among other things, greening and an eco park for tourism.

Sources: Tribun, Nusa Bali, Bali Post, PTKSD, JFE Engineering Corporation Clean Authority of TOKYO

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