SERANG – Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Mendes PDT) Yandri Susanto encouraged research developments by PT PLN Energi Primer Indonesia (PLN EPI) to focus on converting derivative waste from key local commodities into alternative energy sources, particularly for rural communities.

Minister Yandri praised PT PLN EPI for utilizing advanced processing methods to transform materials previously dismissed as useless waste which often threatened the environment—into valuable, functional energy resources.

"In the past, people viewed agricultural by-products and waste from primary village commodities as valueless. Through technological innovation and continuous research, what was once considered useless refuse burdening the environment can now be converted into alternative energy," Minister Yandri stated during his keynote address at the Launch of Community-Based Biomass Development through Village-Owned Enterprises (BUM Desa), held at GOR Jaya Baya, Salira Village, Pulo Ampel District, Serang Regency, Banten, on Saturday (October 31, 2026).

Minister Yandri emphasized that the program launch which directly targets rural economic potential must extend beyond a ceremonial milestone to demonstrate a firm national commitment to rural advancement.

Through this initiative, all participating stakeholders including PT PLN EPI and local BUM Desa are expected to build concrete commitments to map and optimize village resources for the direct benefit of local populations.

"I sincerely hope today's launch is not merely ceremonial. It must serve as a landmark of our serious commitment to progress. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that every asset within our villages is maximized for public welfare," Minister Yandri detailed.

Furthermore, Minister Yandri urged partners to scale the waste-to-energy biomass program beyond its initial pilot locations in three Serang villages, expanding the model across additional villages nationwide.

Scaling the initiative remains critical to optimizing rural economic potential while driving sustainable waste transformation into value-added energy products.

With 75,266 villages across Indonesia, the country possesses vast potential to build a robust biomass ecosystem grounded in local resources, as every village holds distinct characteristics and waste streams capable of being processed into productive, self-reliant energy.

"Therefore, we must actively monitor and support this initiative beyond the launch. Expanding from two pilot villages to six or ten is far too limited given that Indonesia encompasses 75,266 villages," he concluded.

Dignitaries attending the event included Regent of Serang Ratu Rachmatu Zakiyah, President Director of PT PLN EPI Rakhmad Dewanto, and Director of Biomass at PT PLN Energi Primer Indonesia Hokkop Situngkir.

Accompanying Minister Yandri were senior executive officials (Echelon I and II leadership) from the Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions.

Photo: Sigit/Kemendes PDT 
Author: Dayat/Kemendes PDT