Drawing on Palue experience, Prabowo asks BRIN to build desalination technology

President Prabowo Subianto has asked the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) to build and develop technology for filtering seawater into water suitable for drinking and consumption (desalination) domestically.

During a coordination meeting on disaster response in Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Wednesday, the President instructed BRIN and universities to develop desalination technology after hearing a report from Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo about the scarcity of clean water on Palue Island, a remote area affected by earthquakes in Sikka Regency, NTT.

“I ask BRIN, perhaps together with the Defence University, the TNI, and engineering faculties, to develop desalination technology that we are capable of building ourselves. It should be sent immediately to areas that urgently need it,” the President said during the meeting.

The President then emphasised that water is a vital need for the public, making its availability crucial, especially in post-disaster periods such as those currently affecting Flores Island and small surrounding islands like Palue Island.

“Water is very important. So, beyond the short term, we must think about medium- and long-term efforts,” the President said.

According to the President, technological advances make it possible to apply desalination widely, particularly in coastal areas that need additional clean water sources.

“Disasters push us to think more creatively. With this, we realise that for this region, reforestation and water — we now have science and technology that has made many technologies increasingly affordable. Desalination 30 years ago was out of reach; only wealthy nations could afford it. Now we can build desalination at the village level,” Prabowo said.

Therefore, the President stressed that post-disaster recovery is not merely about rebuilding, but also about focusing on making affected areas stronger, more productive, and more resilient. The President then highlighted the development of solar power plants and fisheries areas in NTT.

“Here in NTT, if necessary, perhaps the unproductive mountains can be turned into solar power plants — solar, solar, solar. How many gigawatts of solar power here could serve as an energy source for productive economic projects. I am optimistic this region can become a food source for the nation and the world,” the President said.