The Destructive Ambition of the Giant Sea Wall Project

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Prabowo wants to accelerate the construction of the giant sea wall megaproject on Java’s north coast. Tasking Danantara in the ambitious project is dangerous.

PRESIDENT Prabowo Subianto’s desire to build a giant sea wall on the north coast of Java could end in disaster. Without a proper study, the megaproject, which will stretch from Banten to Gresik in East Java, could damage the environment, disrupt economic activity, and waste state funds.

If Prabowo’s massive sea wall were built, it could prevent tidal flooding from reaching Java’s northern coast. Jakarta would not be inundated, Demak and Semarang would no longer be swamped with sea water. But many fishermen would not be able to go to sea, and they would have difficulties putting in to port. The sea barrier in Tangerang, which is only 30 kilometers long, has already caused many problems, so imagine the impact of a wall stretching hundreds of kilometers.

Prabowo wants to realize the plans for a giant sea wall, which date from the New Order era when the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) proposed it in 1994. He claims that the giant wall will be an effective solution to flooding in Jakarta, and will protect the north coast of Java from inundation. As well as bragging about the target, Prabowo has boasted that Indonesia is capable of building the huge Rp2,000-trillion wall independently.

As usual, when the president issues a command, ministries and state institutions hasten to carry it out. The Public Works Ministry has suggested three locations for the first phase of the giant sea wall construction: Jakarta, the Semarang Harbor toll road section, and the Semarang-Demak toll road section. Bappenas has made a study including several proposals to realize the boss’ bombastic dream.

But in a slightly different approach to Prabowo’s, Bappenas offers a number of options. Claiming it is not necessary to build a wall extending for hundreds of kilometers from Banten to Gresik, the agency recommends the project be adjusted to match the requirements and conditions on the ground. Walls and other forms of coastal protection should only be built in locations prone to flooding, such as Jakarta, Indramayu, Pemalang-Pekalongan, Demak, and Rembang-Tuban. In addition, there is the option of fitting gates in the wall that could be closed when the sea level rises or during storms and opened in normal conditions to allow for the passage of fish and boats.

At a glance, the Bappenas proposals look promising because they offer many logical options. But what is concerning is the megaproject’s proposed funding. Bappenas is suggesting that Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency, or Danantara—a new body that manages state-owned enterprises and their dividends—be tasked with seeking funding for the megaproject. The suggested mechanism is that Danantara provides full support to SOEs subsequently tasked with working on the project, functions as an investor, and seeks other capital for the construction of the sea wall and supporting projects.

Implementing this flagship project using the tasking concept will only repeat the chaos caused by President Joko Widodo during his 10 years in power. The proof of this is that dozens of state-owned construction companies that were forced to work on infrastructure projects without satisfactory feasibility studies, seemingly to satisfy Jokowi’s personal wishes, are now on the verge of bankruptcy.

Read the Complete Story in Tempo English Magazine

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