Meninting and Rukoh Dams Ready to Support Food Self-Sufficiency

JAKARTA – The Meninting Dam in West Nusa Tenggara and the Rukoh Dam in Aceh have officially begun operations after being inaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto along with three other dams on Friday (10 July 2026). The two dams are expected to improve irrigation services, strengthen water security and support the national food self-sufficiency target.

President Prabowo Subianto said the five dams inaugurated represent a strategic government investment to strengthen water, food and energy security.

“The five dams inaugurated today are a state investment that can boost the Indonesian economy, particularly in achieving water, food and energy security,” the President said.

In addition to the Meninting and Rukoh Dams, the President also inaugurated the Jlantah Dam in Karanganyar Regency, Central Java, the Sidan Dam in Gianyar Regency, Bali, and the Keureuto Dam in North Aceh Regency, Aceh. The inauguration ceremony was centred at the Meninting Dam in West Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara.

Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo said dams serve a strategic function as multifunctional infrastructure supporting food security, raw water supply, flood control and the development of renewable energy.

“Dams are multifunctional infrastructure built to deliver long-term benefits for communities. Beyond strengthening irrigation services as a pillar of food self-sufficiency, dams also provide raw water, support renewable energy development and reduce flood risks in various regions,” Dody said.

PT Nindya Karya (Persero) carried out the construction of the Meninting and Rukoh Dams. The Meninting Dam has a storage capacity of 9.91 million cubic metres, capable of irrigating 1,559 hectares, supplying raw water at 0.15 cubic metres per second, reducing flood risk across 59 hectares, and potentially generating electricity through a 0.80-megawatt hydroelectric plant and a 9.23-megawatt floating solar installation.

Meanwhile, the Rukoh Dam in Pidie Regency, Aceh, was built to strengthen the agricultural water system, thereby supporting improved land productivity in the region.

PT Nindya Karya President Director Firmansyah said the company is committed to supporting water resource infrastructure development to underpin national food security.

“Nindya Karya is committed to continuing to support and ensure the success of government programmes, particularly in achieving food self-sufficiency in the homeland,” Firmansyah said.