PT Pertamina (Persero) is collaborating with Hyundai Motor Group and the West Java Provincial Government to build a waste-to-hydrogen (W2H) ecosystem in Bandung, West Java. The ecosystem can utilize waste into hydrogen fuel.

Pertamina's Director of Strategy, Portfolio and New Business Development, A. Salyadi D. Saputra said this collaboration aims to utilize the potential for low-carbon hydrogen production from the Sarimukti final waste disposal site (TPA).

Organic waste in the TPA is decomposed in conditions without oxygen to become biomethane. Then, the biomethane is transported to be processed into hydrogen at a hydrogen refueling station using Pertamina's CNG Station facilities.

In the long term, these projects have the potential to enter the hydrogen market, which is in line with Pertamina's ongoing efforts to encourage the use of clean energy and sustainability.

The development of the hydrogen ecosystem in Indonesia is expected to be accelerated through this collaboration and the project is targeted to start operating in 2029.

Three Pertamina subholdings will be involved in the implementation of this project, namely Pertamina Power Indonesia, PGN and Pertamina Patra Niag, each contributing according to their core business fields.

"Together with Hyundai Motor Group and the West Java Provincial Government, Pertamina will develop this Pilot Project through strong collaboration. This partnership is expected to provide benefits to realize energy independence and create new jobs," he said.

Through cooperation with Hyundai, this initiative will be accelerated by presenting modular reforming technology and hydrogen refueling stations, as well as the development of hydrogen vehicles in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, the Assistant for Economy and Development of the West Java Provincial Secretariat, Sumasna, said that waste management is one of the main environmental issues in West Java.

He hopes that this project can be an effective solution and not only to be able to overcome environmental problems related to methane, but also to benefit from its potential.