VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

A pilot project of a waste-to-energy power plant (PLTSa) in Bantargebang landfill in Bekasi, West Java, is now ready for operation after it was launched here on Monday.

The waste-to-energy plant was built by the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) and the Jakarta Government.

"Now, the plant is in commission, and of course it will need further enhancement by BPPT and the Jakarta Government," head of the agency Hammam Riza said at the inauguration of the Bantargebang PLTSa pilot project.

The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan; Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education Mohamad Nasir; and Riza pushed the siren button to mark the inauguration of the power plant.

It took only one year to complete the project that cost Rp98 billion after its groundbreaking ceremony on March 21, 2018, and it is expected to become fully operational within the next few weeks.

"Within the next few weeks, it will be fully functional, and thus, it can function as a research and development center," he said.

The waste-to-energy plant has the capacity to process 100 tons of garbage per day, and produce 700 kilowatts of electricity per hour as a bonus.

"The electricity produced by the PLTSa will be used to meet the facility's needs," he said.  (ant)