Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government aggressively continues to encourage acceleration of waste-to-energy processing facility with eco-friendly technology, especially in 12 cities stipulated within Presidential Regulation No. 35 of 2018.

When contacted by ANTARA here, Tuesday, Waste Handling Director at the Environment and Forestry Ministry Novrizal Tahar informed that his ministry along with other government institutions intensively continue to conduct assistance and evaluation, especially of these 12 cities.

These 12 cities comprise Jakarta, Tangerang, South Tangerang, Bekasi, Bandung, Semarang, Surakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, Denpasar, Palembang, and Manado.

There is one Waste-to-Electric Energy Processor (PSEL), located in Surabaya and inaugurated by President Joko Widodo in 2021, that is already active.

The ministry coordinates with other institutions, such as the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), and Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry to expedite PSEL development.

The government also continues to provide assistance to regional governments and other parties to drive the acceleration of PSEL, Tahar remarked.

"We have a team that held routine meetings coordinated by the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment," he explained.

The condition of every region differs from one another, including the tipping fee issued by regional governments to waste managers, he remarked.

Earlier, during the Environmental Fund Management Agency's (BDPLH's) National Meeting here on December 21, President Joko Widodo urged the agency to prioritize funding for waste management and mangrove rehabilitation.

Specifically, the president brought up the waste management project Sunter Intermediate Treatment Facility (ITF) in Jakarta that had yet to be completed.

When the Sunter ITF is completed, it is estimated to process 720 tons of waste per year and produce 35 MW of electricity per day.

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Translator: Prisca T V, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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