400 workers deployed to build modern shrimp farm in East Sumba

State-owned construction firm PT Adhi Karya (Persero) has deployed around 400 workers and 300 heavy equipment units to accelerate the construction of an integrated modern shrimp farming estate in East Sumba Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, which is targeted to begin operations in 2027. Project Construction Manager Abdul Kadir stated from East Sumba on Tuesday that the total workforce, including excavator operators, currently stands at approximately 400 people. He said the acceleration is being carried out to meet the initial operational target for the modern shrimp aquaculture area, which is one of the strategic projects in the fisheries sector. According to Abdul Kadir, the project is supported by around 300 heavy equipment units, comprising 140 excavators and about 160 dump trucks used for excavation, material transport, and the formation of cultivation ponds. Of the total heavy equipment in operation, approximately 30 units originate from Sumba Island, while the remainder were brought in from various regions across Indonesia to meet construction needs. The large-scale mobilisation of heavy equipment is part of efforts to expedite fieldwork according to established targets, he noted. He explained that by the end of June 2026, the physical progress of the shrimp farm construction had reached 4.21 percent. This achievement includes the construction of temporary facilities, work on shrimp cultivation ponds, and the development of waste treatment facilities within the cultivation area cluster. The modern shrimp farm project, being built in Palakahembi Village, has an investment value of around Rp7.2 trillion and covers an area of more than 2,000 hectares. The aquaculture zone is designed as an integrated shrimp farm equipped with various supporting facilities, including a waste treatment installation, to support more efficient and sustainable cultivation management. The project is expected not only to increase national shrimp production but also to create jobs and drive economic growth for communities in East Sumba Regency and the wider East Nusa Tenggara region.