RI Revisits Giant Sea Walls Mega Project Development Amid Uncertainty

The Indonesian government is set to expedite the construction of a giant sea wall in several areas along the North Coast of Java. The plan for constructing the giant sea wall on Java Island begins with procuring coastal embankments in the Jakarta coastal area worth Rp 164.1 trillion. The government views the urgent need for the giant sea wall construction along the North Coast of Java due to the land subsidence rate of 1-25 centimeters per year. There are also threats from offshore factors, such as rising sea levels by 1-15 cm per year in certain locations and recurrent tidal floods.

The acceleration of procuring the giant sea wall on the North Coast of Java is spearheaded by the Coordinating Economic Affairs Ministry, the Agrarian and Spatial Planning Ministry, the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, and the National Defense University, also known as Unhan, under the Defense Ministry. Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto said the construction of the giant sea wall is related to efforts to safeguard the national economy sector, which is currently heavily concentrated in Java. "These threats endanger the continuity of economic activities and national infrastructure," he stated on Jan 10.