Meninting and Rukoh Dams Ready to Support Food Self-Sufficiency

President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated the Meninting Dam in West Nusa Tenggara and the Rukoh Dam in Aceh on Friday (10/7/2026), alongside three other dams, marking their official operation. The two dams are expected to improve irrigation services, strengthen water security, and support the national food self-sufficiency target. President Prabowo stated that the five dams represent a strategic state investment to strengthen water, food, and energy security. “The five dams inaugurated today are a state investment that can boost Indonesia’s economy, especially in achieving water, food, and energy security,” the President said. Besides 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 explained that dams serve a strategic function as multifunctional infrastructure supporting food security, raw water supply, flood control, and the development of new renewable energy. “Dams are multifunctional infrastructure built to provide long-term benefits for the community. In addition to strengthening irrigation services to support food self-sufficiency, dams also supply raw water, support the development of new renewable energy, and reduce flood risks in various regions,” Dody said. State-owned construction firm PT Nindya Karya 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 a rate of 0.15 cubic metres per second, reducing flood risk across a 59-hectare area, and potentially generating electricity through a 0.80-megawatt hydroelectric power plant and a 9.23-megawatt floating solar power plant. Meanwhile, the Rukoh Dam in Pidie Regency, Aceh, was built to strengthen the agricultural irrigation system, thereby supporting increased land productivity in the region. PT Nindya Karya President Director Firmansyah said the company is committed to supporting water resource infrastructure development to bolster national food security. “Nindya Karya is committed to continuously supporting and succeeding government programmes, especially in realising food security in the country,” Firmansyah said.