Giant Sea Wall Project to Begin in Jakarta, Semarang, and Demak, AHY Reveals
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JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono has unveiled details of Indonesia’s long-awaited giant sea wall (GSW) megaproject, confirming that the initial phase will begin in Jakarta, Semarang, and Demak.
Initially conceived as a 500-kilometer coastal barrier stretching across Java’s northern coast, the government will prioritize critical zones facing severe tidal flooding. “We’re focusing first on Jakarta and Semarang, with Demak next, before integrating other areas,” Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, also known as AHY, said during a coordination meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025.
The GSW project is part of a larger national initiative to strengthen climate resilience and protect millions of residents and vital economic zones along the northern coastline. In addition to concrete barriers, the government plans to incorporate nature-based solutions such as mangrove replanting to absorb wave energy and reduce construction costs.
“We’re combining hard infrastructure with natural defenses,” said AHY. “Mangrove belts can serve as coastal shields, protecting tens of millions of people and key industrial and special economic zones.”
President Prabowo Subianto has previously emphasized the scale and strategic significance of the sea wall. During the International Conference of Infrastructure (ICI) 2025 held on Thursday, June 12, Prabowo estimated the project would cost around $80 billion, or approximately Rp 1,297 trillion, and stretch from Banten in the west to Gresik in East Java.
“This is no small distance—around 500 kilometers,” said Prabowo. “This is not only about coastal defense. It is about safeguarding Indonesia’s economic future.”
To manage the project’s scale and complexity, the government plans to establish a dedicated authority to oversee its execution. The giant sea wall is expected to be built over the next 15 to 20 years, making it one of Southeast Asia’s most ambitious infrastructure endeavors.
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