Bantar Gebang Garbage Generates 26 Megawatts Electricity

BEKASI, KOMPAS.com - The pile of garbage in DKI Jakarta's Garbage Processing Center (TPST), Bekasi, can be used to generate electric power. Unfortunately, the garbage has been left idle. If processed, the garbage in Bantar Gebang could generate electricity approximately up to 26 megawatts.

Everyday, Bantar Geband TPST is dumped with thousands of tons of garbage from Jakarta. Mostly are organic.

"With the pyrolysis technology and Galfad system that will be assembled in Bantar Gebang, the garbage could be processed to generate up to 26 MW," said the director of PT Godang Tua Jaya, Douglas Manurung, Tuesday. "For the preliminary phase, starting 2010, Bantar Gebang TPST will generate 2 MW," he said.

This potential energy source will be transferred into an electric power by PT Godang Tua Yaja as the management of Bantar Gebang TPST together with PT Navigat Organic Energy Indonesia, Sindicatum Capital Carbon, and Organic International Limited.

Navigat Organic possess experiences in processing garbage into electric power source at the Sarbagita TPST in Suwung waste disposal center, Denpasar, Bali.

The other facilities under preparation are the compost making, plastic waste recycling, and methane gas processing.

"If one house in average needs 1,000 watts of electric power, then the power generated from Bantar Gebang could supply eletrcity for 26,000 house," said Douglas.

Separately, the Environmental Agency Chief, Duddy Setiabudhi stated that processing garbage into renewable energy source, including electric power, has bright prospects. "Because garbage will always be around us and dumped as human activities go on," he commented.

Bagong Suyoto, LSM Coallition Chief for National Sewage, hopes that the Bantar Gebang TPST could produce power continuously. They need a fixed and steady supply of garbage. This condition must be ensured by the government. "If the garbage supply is interrupted it can impact the production machines' performance," said Bagong, who is also the Council Chairman of the Forum for the Environment (Walhi).

According to Bagong, the effort to process garbage into power source is one of the three strategies of garbage-issue management. The other strategies are to reduce and recycle garbage.