Hambalang, W Java (ANTARA) – President Prabowo Subianto ordered all 18 downstream industrial projects overseen by state-backed Danantara Indonesia to begin construction by March 2026, underscoring his push to accelerate investment-led growth.Prabowo delivered the directive during a Cabinet retreat at the Garuda Yaksa complex in Hambalang, West Java, on Tuesday, according to State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi.Six of the projects are scheduled to break ground in January 2026. Prabowo instructed ministers to speed up preparation for the remaining developments so construction can start in February or, at the latest, March, Hadi said.The 18 projects have completed pre-feasibility studies and are estimated to require a combined investment of about 600 trillion rupiah (USD38.5 billion). Danantara Indonesia will lead the realization of the investments.One of the projects is a nationwide waste-to-energy program, known locally as PSEL, aimed at converting non-recyclable waste into electricity and other energy forms, he said.The waste-to-energy facilities will be built at 34 sites across 34 regencies and cities, primarily in areas where daily waste volumes exceed 1,000 metric tons, creating urgent environmental and public health risks.The program is expected to reduce landfill volumes, curb pollution, and mitigate health hazards from unmanaged waste, while also contributing to Indonesia’s domestic energy supply.Waste-to-energy technology processes refuse that cannot be recycled into usable energy such as heat, electricity, or alternative fuels, helping cut reliance on conventional power sources including coal.In addition to waste-to-energy, the government will soon begin construction on coal gasification projects to produce dimethyl ether, or DME, as part of Indonesia’s mineral and energy downstreaming strategy.DME is produced from low-calorie coal and is intended to substitute for liquefied petroleum gas, reducing Indonesia’s dependence on imported LPG, Hadi said.The portfolio also includes projects in energy and agriculture, reflecting the administration’s broader effort to strengthen supply chains, boost value-added production, and support food and energy security.President Prabowo urged faster execution of priority programs and called for tighter coordination across ministries and agencies to ensure major projects are delivered on schedule in 2026.He emphasized that officials must set aside personal and sectoral interests, resolve disputes quickly, and work decisively and creatively to achieve national development goals, Prasetyo said.