The Indonesian government is currently preparing a comprehensive study for the construction of a giant sea wall along the northern coast of Java Island. This initiative, aimed at addressing recurring issues of climate change and land subsidence, was confirmed by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, during the Scientific Oration of the BJ Habibie Memorial Lecture in Jakarta on Tuesday, July 23. 

“We are preparing the study and will continue with it,” stated Minister Hartarto, indicating that both the current and future administrations support this significant infrastructure project.  

The giant sea wall is seen as a vital solution to the annual challenges posed by climate change and the phenomenon of land subsidence, particularly in the northern part of Java. 

The project, described as a national strategic initiative by President-elect Prabowo Subianto, is expected to offer substantial protection against flooding and abrasion for the coastal regions. Minister Hartarto emphasized that this development would not only protect the environment but also enhance economic sustainability and improve the welfare of the local communities. 

“We will continue to push for the construction of the giant sea wall in northern Java, thus addressing the poverty affecting 55 million people in northern Java,” he added. 

The project is set to unfold in three phases. The first phase will involve constructing coastal and river embankments and developing a pump and polder system in Jakarta's northern coastal area.  

The second phase, which must be completed before 2030, will see the construction of an open dike sea wall on the western side of northern Jakarta.  

The final phase, scheduled for completion before 2040, involves building a sea wall on the eastern side of northern Jakarta. If land subsidence continues post-2040, the sea wall design will be modified from an open to a closed concept. 

Economic assessments by Minister Hartarto estimate that annual flooding in Jakarta’s coastal areas results in direct economic losses of approximately Rp2.1 trillion (US$125 million). This figure could escalate to Rp10 trillion (US$598 million) annually over the next decade. The first phase of the project is estimated to require a budget of Rp164.1 trillion (US$9.8 billion), to be funded through a Government and Business Entity Cooperation (KPBU) scheme.  

Java Island, currently the largest contributor to Indonesia's gross domestic product (GDP), faces significant challenges including erosion, abrasion, flooding, and land subsidence, particularly in its northern coastal areas. The giant sea wall project aims to mitigate these issues, ensuring the region's long-term environmental and economic stability.