Mass Action Demands Retirement of Babelan PLTU: Bekasi Needs Breath, Not Pollution

The protesters who are urging the retirement of the Babelan Steam Power Plant (PLTU) held a demonstration in front of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Building, Central Jakarta, Tuesday (5/27/2025). 

 In their action, they unfurled a banner that read “Hit Bekasi Pollution” at the entrance to the building, and distributed various flyers containing criticism of the environmental impact of the Babelan PLTU. 

 Some of the writings that adorned the flyers included “Bekasi is Congested with Pollution”, “Bekasi Needs Breath, Not Pollution”, “PLTU Pollution Kills Slowly”, and “Stop the Poison in Bekasi’s Sky”.

The flyer was also accompanied by a picture of a factory building and thick smoke covering the earth, depicting a serious threat to the environment and the health of residents. The President of the Attaqwa KH Noer Alie Bekasi Institute Student Ayu Fitri Hartanti stated that this action was carried out as a form of protest against air pollution caused by the Babelan PLTU.

"We came to voice the public's concerns regarding the environmental and health impacts of the Babelan PLTU. We hope that the policy brief we submitted can be a serious consideration for the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources," Ayu told.

In addition to digital printouts, the protesters also brought a number of hand-written posters, such as "Our Rice Dies, Our Children's Breath is Choked, All Because of That Chimney" and "Farmers Displaced in a Fertile Country". The protest was led by a combination of students and environmental activists from various organizations.

They urged the government to immediately take concrete steps to stop the operation of the PLTU which is considered to be damaging the environment and the lives of the surrounding community. 

Dani Setiawan, a representative from the environmental organization Rizoma, said that there were four main demands voiced to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. 

"The demands are the retirement of the Babelan PLTU, the revocation of ESDM Ministerial Regulation No. 10 of 2025 which is considered not in line with the mandate of Presidential Regulation No. 112 of 2022, a review of the 2025 RUKN, and social security for the community after the PLTU is closed," explained Dani.

He added that this action was also a form of pressure on the government to immediately change the direction of climate policy which is considered to be leading Indonesia towards a 4°C global warming scenario. 

Until noon, the masses were still at the location of the action while waiting for the opportunity to have an audience with the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources to convey their aspirations directly.