Governor Luthfi: Land for Batang AI Data Centre Available, from 2 to 58 Hectares

SEMARANG — Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi has confirmed that land needed for an artificial intelligence data centre at the Batang Integrated Industrial Estate (KITB) has been prepared. However, he stressed that the project is still under review.

“The Batang AI data centre is still under review. But, in principle, we have prepared the site,” Luthfi said in an interview at the Gradhika Bhakti Praja Building in Semarang on Monday (19 October 2026).

He said sufficient land was available at KITB for the AI data centre. “If they want 58 hectares, it’s available. Two hectares are available, and one hectare is available. Everything is ready,” Luthfi said.

Asked about public concerns that the AI data centre could exploit water resources, Luthfi declined to comment at length. “It’s still under review; that’s what a review is for. Don’t jump to conclusions,” he said in response to questions about water-related concerns over the project.

Republika contacted KITB for further details about the proposed AI data centre, but the estate’s management was not prepared to provide any information about the project.

Meanwhile, Dwi Suryono, head of the renewable energy and energy conservation division at the Central Java Energy and Mineral Resources Agency, said KITB had informed the agency of its plan to build an AI data centre in the estate. The agency was copied in because such a facility would require a substantial water supply as well as reliable electricity.

“We haven’t been involved; we’ve only been informed, and KITB has coordinated with us on the matter,” Dwi said in an interview in Semarang on 7 October 2026, when asked about the planned AI data centre at KITB.

He added that KITB had so far only presented a general outline of the plan. “We are monitoring it too, but not intensively,” he said.