Jokowi Meets Regional Heads to Discuss Waste Management
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16 July 2019 18:37 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi led a closed meeting to discuss the construction of a waste power plant today, July 16. The meeting took place at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, with dozens of regional heads invited to attend.
The president said he has had six meetings to discuss waste management since becoming Mayor of Solo. But there has been no end to the problems.
"I'm telling it as it is. We also want to solve this garbage problem, we want to work on it. This is the same as when I was governor (of Jakarta). Even until now, to this day, I have not heard of any progress," he said.
In the meeting, Jokowi asked regional heads to openly express their complaints and say what obstacles they encountered; including problems in coordinating with the central government, if there are any.
"So what is the problem? Someone said 'it is PLN, sir, who is slow.' Others said that the problem is with the Energy and Mineral Resources [Ministry]. We had PLN and the Energy Ministry in the meeting. We have finalized [the discussion] this afternoon," Jokowi said.
The President explained the government's focus is not on electricity production, but the waste. Indonesia cannot solve its garbage problems of landfill remains unaddressed.
"We have to finish the marine debris as well. This is also a world problem; not just ours. And we are in the world's second-biggest (waster producer)," he stated.
