Amid the growing scrutiny, Bali Governor Wayan Koster declined to comment on the matter. His silence was evident following a meeting marking one year of his leadership evaluation held in Denpasar, where he did not respond to questions regarding the legal case despite its prominence in public discourse.

However, Koster confirmed that the Bali provincial government has prepared legal assistance related to the case. “Of course there is,” he said briefly on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

Despite the ongoing legal issue, Koster reiterated that the closure of Suwung landfill will proceed as scheduled. He stressed that the facility will be fully shut down on August 1, 2026, with no changes to the timeline.

The shutdown of TPA Suwung is part of Bali’s broader waste management transformation, including the development of a Waste-to-Energy (PSEL) facility. However, the strategic project has faced delays, with construction now expected to begin with a groundbreaking in June 2026.

Koster stated that the landfill closure will be implemented in phases, starting with the cessation of organic waste disposal on March 31, 2026.

“Organic waste disposal will stop on March 31, 2026,” he said.

Starting April 1, 2026, the landfill will only accept residual waste, while organic waste must be managed at the source through community- and region-based systems.

The operation of TPA Suwung for residual waste will also be temporary. The government has set a deadline of August 31, 2026, before the landfill is completely closed.

“After that, TPA Suwung will be fully closed for all waste,” Koster added.

As a long-term solution, the Bali provincial government is preparing the construction of the PSEL facility, which is targeted to begin operations in early 2028. The project will be built on a 6-hectare site owned by PT Pelindo, with a processing capacity of up to 1,200 tons of waste per day from Denpasar and Badung.

Construction is scheduled to run from June 2026 until the end of 2027, with Zhejiang Weiming Environment Protection Co., Ltd. appointed as the operator.

The situation has raised public concerns over a potential gap between the closure of the landfill and the full readiness of its replacement facility.

Despite these concerns, the provincial government insists that the closure timeline will not be postponed.

The legal case involving the former LHK head has further complicated Bali’s waste management situation. The public is now awaiting transparency and decisive action from the government, including an official explanation from the governor.

Koster’s silence has also fueled speculation, especially as the Suwung landfill issue has long been one of Bali’s most critical environmental challenges. With the closure approaching and the PSEL project not yet fully operational, authorities face mounting pressure to prevent a new waste management crisis on the island.