Deputy Head of BOPPJ to Strengthen Giant Sea Wall Project for North Java Coast
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated Muhammad Fadil Imran as the Deputy Head of the North Java Coastal Management Authority (BOPPJ) in Jakarta on Thursday.
Born in Makassar, South Sulawesi, the appointee is a 1991 graduate of the Police Academy (Akpol). Prior to his role at BOPPJ, Fadil held several high-ranking positions within the National Police, including East Java Regional Police Chief in 2020, Jakarta Metro Police Chief from 2020 to 2023, and most recently, Head of the National Police Security Maintenance Body from 2023 to 2025. He also serves as a Commissioner at MIND ID, the state-owned mining holding company that integrates PT ANTAM, PT Bukit Asam, PT Freeport Indonesia, PT INALUM, PT Timah, and PT Vale Indonesia into a single national strategic ecosystem.
Fadil will officially assist the Head of BOPPJ, Didit Herdiawan Ashlag, who was previously inaugurated by the President in 2025. The North Java Coastal Management Authority, established on 24 June 2025, is a non-structural agency formed under Presidential Regulation Number 77 of 2025. The agency is tasked with coordinating and executing the preparation, planning, construction, and development of the northern coast of Java.
One of the primary responsibilities for Fadil Imran as Deputy Head of BOPPJ involves the construction of the ‘giant sea wall’ project. This project is a key programme managed by BOPPJ. The planned sea wall for the northern coast of Java is expected to span approximately 575 kilometres, divided into two main regions. Region I covers Serang, Tangerang, Jakarta Bay, Bekasi, Karawang, Subang, Indramayu, and Cirebon. Region II encompasses Brebes, Tegal, Pemalang, Pekalongan, Batang, Kendal, Semarang, Demak, Jepara, Pati, Rembg, Tuban, Lamongan, and Gresik.
The infrastructure development will include sea walls, coastal embankments, and nature-based approaches such as mangrove conservation. The urgency of the giant sea wall project is a national strategic step to address serious challenges in coastal areas. The current condition of the northern coast is considered increasingly alarming due to the rising frequency of tidal flooding, land subsidence, and the impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels.
The region stretching from Banten to East Java is home to approximately 50 million people and contributes 38 per cent to Indonesia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The economic and industrial landscape of the northern coast consists of 70 industrial zones and five economic zones. Furthermore, the northern coast of Java is a vital part of the national logistics axis, housing essential ports and airports, such as Tanjung Priok Port, Tanjung Emas Port, and Ahmad Yani Airport. Beyond economic and industrial sectors, the giant sea wall is also necessary to protect the rice granaries of the northern coast, which are vital to national food security.
In total, the giant sea wall construction is planned to span 575 kilometres across 15 segments. Construction is targeted to begin in early 2027, and interest has already been shown by potential funders. The government emphasises that this is a long-term project, with completion times varying by region. While the entire project is estimated to take up to 20 years, it could potentially be completed within 10 to 15 years if implementation is accelerated.
Under Presidential Regulation Number 77 of 2025, the preparation, planning, construction, and development of the North Java coast will be carried out based on the North Java Coastal Management Master Plan. This plan includes sea wall infrastructure and reclamation, including roads, bridges, railways, flood pumping systems, water treatment networks, sewage systems, waste management, navigation systems, and integrated renewable energy infrastructure.
In addition to protecting the northern coast, the giant sea wall will enable water security, as outlined in President Prabryowo’s ‘Astacita’ programme. Efforts to convert seawater into fresh water through desalination are part of the strategy to achieve water security in areas prone to drought, exacerbated by climate change and El Niño. Once operational, the supply of brackish water will be sufficient to be processed into fresh water for daily use. Furthermore, the giant sea wall’s retention reservoirs can serve as raw water sources for the community and act as flood control infrastructure to manage rainwater runoff, functioning as water conservation areas to anticipate droughts.