DPR Member: Giant Sea Wall Project to Ensure Safety on Java's North Coast

Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Andre Rosiade stated that the Giant Sea Wall project is intended to ensure the safety of communities living along the North Coast (Pantura) of Java. "The President conveyed that this Giant Sea Wall project is a long-term, 20-year project concerning tens of millions of Indonesians living on Java’s North Coast, as well as many of our industries located there. This project is a necessity in order to safeguard the safety of tens of millions of Indonesian citizens," Andre said in Jakarta on Friday. He added that the project also aims to ensure the Pantura region is not eroded by tidal flooding. "It will protect existing industries and ensure our territory is not eroded. The Giant Sea Wall is not a new technology; it has been developed in various countries, as the President mentioned, one of which is the Netherlands," Andre said. President Prabowo Subianto expressed his determination to begin construction of the Giant Sea Wall along the North Coast of Java during his administration, noting the project requires a long time to complete, with projections of up to 20 years. Prabowo said the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has produced technological breakthroughs to be used in the construction of this massive seawall. He added that the construction is planned to be divided into 15 segments from Banten Province to Gresik, East Java. If construction is carried out simultaneously, he believes the completion of the entire project could be reduced from 20 years. He stressed that the construction of the Giant Sea Wall aims to secure the North Coast of Java. "This is absolutely something we must do; let us not wait for disaster to strike," the President said. He noted that Indonesia also needs to learn from other countries, such as the Netherlands, which built long-term protective infrastructure without waiting for a disaster. The Giant Sea Wall in the Netherlands, Prabowo explained, now protects millions of Dutch residents and has become a symbol of the nation’s technological capability. Furthermore, the President asserted that the Giant Sea Wall on Java’s north coast must also serve as a clean water infrastructure, a new growth corridor, and an engineering project that builds the capabilities of the nation’s people.