Title

Waste, Energy, and Mangkrak Infrastructure in Indonesia

Speaker

Pratama Yudha Pradheksa (PhD Candidate, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York, US)

Abstract

One-size-fits-all technological solutions, such as waste-to-energy (WTE) incinerators, present many issues when deployed across diverse contexts. In Indonesia, several WTE projects have been identified as mangkrak. The term cannot simply be interpreted as “neglected,” “abandoned,” “left idle,” “incomplete,” or “stalled.” This ongoing research, which draws on both historical and contemporary aspects, examines mangkrak in relation to WTE initiatives that are tied to artifact technology and scientific knowledge. The meaning of mangkrak has evolved over time, shifting from a symbol of resistance and neglect to one that signifies a proactive search for alternative pathways in infrastructure. Mangkrak, which is shaped by coexistence, incompleteness, and co-production, has the potential to move beyond the conventional binary of infrastructure project success or failure.

Bio

Pratama Yudha Pradheksa is a Science and Technology Studies (STS) Ph.D. candidate at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. A former Fulbright Scholar, his research focuses on waste, energy, and mangkrak infrastructure in Indonesia. Pratama’s work on technological infrastructure appears in Studies in History and Philosophy of Science, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition, and East Asian Science, Technology and Society. He led Sekolah STS (STS School) in Indonesia, connecting scholarship with activism through collaboration with Perkumpulan Peneliti Eutenika.

Organizer

Chika Yamada, Youdiil Ophinni (CSEAS)