Opening Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Inauguration of the Waste-to-Energy Plant of Benowo Landfill 6 May 2021 in Surabaya City, East Java Province

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Good afternoon,

May peace be upon us all.

Om Swastiastu,

Namo Buddhaya,

Greetings of virtue.

Distinguished Ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet,

Distinguished Governor of East Java,

Distinguished Mayor of Surabaya and all members of Regional Leadership Communication Forum,

Distinguished Board of Directors and Management of PT Sumber Organik,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The process of waste treatment, which we will soon see, has been prepared since four years ago. Since 2018, three years ago. I prepared the Presidential Regulation and the Government Regulation. What for? Because of my experience since 2008 when I was still a mayor, then a governor, then became the President. I could not realize waste-to-energy process, which I have always wanted since I became the mayor of Solo city. Therefore, I issued Presidential Regulation Number 16 of 2018 on investment, then Presidential Regulation Number 35 of 2018 on electricity tariff to ensure that regional governments execute the program. Back then, they were afraid to execute it due to fear of being summoned by the Office of the District Attorney, the police, or the Corruption Eradication Commission. Why? The legal umbrella is unclear so it is hard to make a decision. A Government Regulation on regional-government-owned property management has also been issued.

However, Surabaya city government truly deserves credit for speed in working so the first (plant) in seven cities I appointed through a Presidential Regulation is completed. This is the first one to finish. The others still go back and forth. They have issues with tipping fees, regional-government-owned properties… There are still unfinished businesses. Therefore, I once again give credit for the government of Surabaya city, for its former mayor and its new mayor. It is not easy because I experienced it. I changed the Presidential and Government regulations multiple times to enable all cities to carry it out because the issue of waste is not only about converting waste to energy. No, it is not. It is about the cleanliness of a city, about pollution that arises from piling up waste, which generates leachate when it rains, about all problems.

I received a report from the Mayor. There was a problem with fishpond. When I was a mayor, it was the same, there was a problem with residents’ wells. Therefore, I sincerely appreciate, highly value the waste-to-energy plant based on, this is a good one, based on environmentally sound technology.

I will order other cities not to make it complicated, to use ideas from (the plant in) Surabaya, to imitate, to copy it.

That concludes my speech.

By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I hereby inaugurate Waste-to-Energy Plant Based on Environmentally Sound Technology this afternoon.

I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. (DH/EP)