Jakarta (ANTARA) – The designation of three waste-to-energy (WtE) plant development programs as national strategic projects reflects the government’s determination to address Indonesia’s increasingly complex waste challenges, Danantara Investment Management (DIM) CEO Pandu Sjahrir said.“Conferring national strategic project status on the three plants shows the government’s commitment to integrated solutions for the waste crisis, aiming to improve waste management systems, reduce reliance on landfills, and convert waste into energy,” he noted in a statement on Saturday.Sjahrir referred to waste-to-energy projects under development in Bekasi and Bogor, West Java, and in Denpasar, Bali, each managed by a different developer. Their elevation in status followed a decree issued by the Committee for the Acceleration of Priority Infrastructure Provision.He underlined WtE development as a crucial step toward easing landfill overcapacity in various regions, citing mounting risks of pollution, health problems, and methane emissions from open dumping sites.“Through Denera, we are eager to help expedite the creation of an ecosystem for waste-to-energy projects as part of long-term solutions to Indonesia’s waste management challenges,” he remarked.Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, established PT Daya Energi Bersih Nusantara (Denera) as a subsidiary of DIM tasked with overseeing WtE projects.Sjahrir emphasized that Denera has the potential to emerge as one of the world’s largest WtE companies. He also disclosed plans to list the firm on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, viewing the move as a catalyst for growth.Meanwhile, DIM Investment Director and Denera CEO Fadli Rahman explained that the developers managing the three WtE projects had passed a selection process organized by his team.He noted that each entity is responsible for developing the projects in line with government standards and requirements.On the strategic status, Rahman viewed it as proof that WtE development has been recognized as a national priority.“For Denera, the status will not only accelerate development at the three locations; it lays a foundation for expansions into other regions,” he concluded.