Indonesia to Build Giant Sea Wall in Phases from Northern Java Coast

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April 20, 2026 | 10:20 pm

An officer from Jakarta North Water Resources Agency patched up the leaking Muara Baru levee in Muara Baru, Jakarta, December 5, 2025. Antara/Indrianto Eko Suwarso

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has affirmed that the giant sea wall project will be implemented in stages, with the initial phase prioritized along the northern coast of Java.

Head of the North Java Coastal Area Authority and Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Didit Herdiawan Ashaf said the project remains in the planning phase.

“We will further examine activities related to the construction,” Didit said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Monday, April 20, 2026.

According to Didit, the government has not yet set a specific timeline for the start of construction. However, he indicated that the process could be accelerated. “The construction target has not been determined, but it can be expedited,” he said.

He added that the government is still conducting detailed studies on technical and implementation aspects before moving forward. “The timing is still being calculated because it is closely linked to the availability of resources,” he said.

Didit also emphasized the importance of integrating resource efficiency with environmental protection in the project’s development. He noted that environmental considerations, including waste management, will be incorporated. “One of the key aspects is how we can utilize environmental factors, including managing waste effectively,” he said.

The government plans to construct a 535-kilometer sea wall stretching from Banten to Gresik, aimed at mitigating the impact of rising sea levels caused by land subsidence along Java’s northern coastline.

President Prabowo Subianto has said the project can no longer be delayed. He noted that the initiative has been included in national development plans since the administration of former president Soeharto. According to Prabowo, the estimated cost of the project is around US$80 billion.

Read: Prabowo Seeks Professors' Involvement in Giant Sea Wall Project

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