After passing through a collaboration between TMR and PT Paiton Energy, the Jakarta City Parks and Forest Agency (Tamhut) inaugurated the Waste to Energy and Learning Center technology program at the Ragunan Zoo (TMR) on Tuesday (9/19).

The inauguration was marked by cutting the ribbon and signing an inscription by Jakarta Tamhut Agency, Bayu Megantara and PT Paiton Energy President Director, Koichiro Miyazaki.

According to him, the zoo is the first conservation park in Indonesia to have a Waste to Energy (WTE) technology program. By so, the zoo can independently convert organic waste, especially animal waste, into gas and electrical power.

"This is a gift to celebrate the zoo's 159 anniversary," he expressed.

He went on to say that this zoo has been managing animal waste by moving it to the landfill area at the zoo. The collected waste would then turn into compost, but it faced the constraints of limited land and resources.

"WTE is a pilot project in Jakarta. Hopefully, this technology can be put to good use," he continued.

PT Paiton Energy President Director, Koichiro Miyazaki added it is a collaborative action between the private sector and the government in a bid to curb climate change through a sustainable carbon emission reduction and absorption initiative program.

"Its presence is very useful to curb organic waste at the zoo and preserve the environment and producing energy from renewable sources," he concluded.

TMR Management Unit Head, Endah Rumiyati explained the collaboration with PT Paiton Energi had been carried out since 2018. At that time, the party got 20 electric motorbikes and then got six electric cars in 2020.

This year, the cooperation is to develop technology for processing waste into electricity generation. His company installed and operated eight units of biodigester machines which function to process animal waste and organic waste into biogas which can drive the Biogas Waste Power Plant (PLTSa) machine.

The Biogas PLTSa which produces 234 kWh of electricity is managed independently by the zoo for the needs of the WTE and Learning Center.

"The public can also learn about waste processing," he stated.