Bali governor and Chinese diplomat discuss waste to energy project

Denpasar (ANTARA) - Bali Governor Wayan Koster received China’s Consul General in Denpasar, Zhang Zhisheng, to discuss the development of a waste-to-energy (WtE) plant in the province.

In a statement cited on Friday, he highlighted that Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund Danantara had partnered with Chinese company Zhejiang Weiming to carry out the project.

“I am directly leading the development process alongside the Badung district head and Denpasar mayor to ensure everything proceeds smoothly ahead of the groundbreaking ceremony planned for next July,” he remarked.

The governor explained that the project is undergoing administrative and land acquisition procedures, which are targeted for completion by the end of June 2026.

“As this will be Bali’s first high-tech WtE plant, I am closely monitoring every stage. Construction is expected to take 15 months and finish by October 2027,” he affirmed.

Koster expressed hope that the power-generating facility would help Denpasar and Badung address their waste problems while reinforcing Bali's image as a clean, modern, world-class tourist destination.

The discussion also touched on enduring ties between the people of Bali and China.

“Several sacred places in Bali are used to worship Chinese gods and goddesses. Culturally, the Balinese Hindu community shares similar values with Chinese culture,” he noted.

He further pointed out that Chinese travelers remain among the top contributors to Bali’s tourism sector, ranking third after visitors from Australia and India.

Consul General Zhang assured the governor of China’s support for the WtE project in Bali, citing the province's growing electricity demand after visiting the Celukan Bawang Steam Power Plant in Buleleng.

He voiced confidence that the planned WtE plant would help resolve Bali’s waste issues, stressing that Zhejiang Weiming is reliable and capable of executing the project in line with local regulations.

The envoy also highlighted growing demand for Balinese fruits in China and welcomed the implementation of Indonesia’s QRIS cross-border payment service, which he believed could boost bilateral trade and tourism.

Furthermore, he invited Koster to visit China to explore broader cooperation opportunities, particularly in investment and digital transformation.