PCBs are a group of chemical substances that are resistant to extreme temperatures. They can be found in electrical equipment, such as in the dielectric oils of transformers, capacitors and fluorescent light ballast. They are also used in products such as adhesives, ink, flame retardants and others.

PCBs are known to adversely impact human health and the environment. They contribute to disorders of the immune, nervous and endocrine systems in humans and animals. Due to their hazardous properties, PCBs are one of the persistent organic pollutants regulated under the Stockholm Convention, which Indonesia ratified with Law No. 19/2009.

The Stockholm Convention has set a 2028 deadline for the elimination of the use of PCBs in concentrations greater than 50 ppm in equipment and has obliged state parties to manage PCB waste in an environmentally sound manner.

Based on one estimate, approximately 241,213 tons of PCBs are scattered throughout Java and Sumatra alone.

Industries using transformers or capacitors manufactured up to 1997 are covered by the ministerial regulation. The regulation introduces two deadlines: (i) 2022 will be the deadline for industries to conduct inventories to identify whether their electrical equipment contains PCBs at 50 ppm or higher and (ii) 2028 will be the deadline for all PCBs in Indonesia to be treated.  

These deadlines could pose serious challenges for industry and the government. Specific technologies are necessary for the treatment of PCBs. Only one facility, located in West Java, is expected to be ready soon to treat the waste. Moreover, its capacity is quite limited. Additional facilities are needed, particularly in areas outside Java. This may require foreign investment.

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