Prabowo Wants Professors Involved in Giant Sea Wall Project
President Prabowo Subianto wants lecturers up to professors to be involved in the giant sea wall or massive sea wall project. Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto conveyed this after attending a limited meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday, 20 April 2026.
Brian mentioned that this sea wall project will save 60% of industrial areas and more than 30 million residents. Therefore, said Brian, his ministry has been asked to participate actively in the development of the project. “Many research results from campuses that have already been tested. One of them that succeeded in Demak, Semarang. We will also be asked to participate actively,” Brian stated at the Presidential Palace complex on Monday afternoon.
He explained that lecturers at universities who have been conducting research related to this giant sea wall will be involved to support the acceleration of the project construction while making it more efficient.
In fact, said Brian, his ministry will start inviting several professors who have contributions in fields related to the giant sea wall project. Brian said that the academics will be invited to meet with the Head of the North Java Coast Management Authority—who also serves as Deputy Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries—Didit Herdiawan Ashaf.
“Directly next week we will invite several professors who indeed have expertise and are involved in several cases for several projects, yes. For land creation, reclamation, and the like,” said Brian.
The government plans to build a sea wall spanning 535 kilometres from the tip of the Banten coast to Gresik, East Java, in line with the threat of rising sea levels due to land subsidence.
President Prabowo has previously stated that this project can no longer be delayed. He emphasised that the project has been in the National Development Planning Agency’s planning since the era of President Soeharto’s administration. According to Prabowo, the budget needed to realise the project reaches US$80 billion.
On Monday afternoon, 20 April 2026, Prabowo held a limited meeting to discuss the progress of the giant sea wall project. In addition to Minister Brian, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono and his deputy, Head of BOPPJ Didit Herdiawan Ashaf, were present. “Regarding the giant sea wall, it is still in the planning stage and we will delve deeper into activities related to construction,” said Didit Herdiawan Ashaf after the meeting.
Nevertheless, Didit revealed that no final decision was made in today’s meeting. He stated that the government is still calculating when the construction of the massive sea wall will begin. “Because it relates to the available resources,” he said.
Didit emphasised the importance of utilising resources as well as environmental protection aspects in the construction of this giant sea wall. “One of the main things is that we can utilise environmental matters, so we absorb things related to waste,” said Didit.