Indonesia eyes seawater desalination to secure clean water supply

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono has expressed readiness to advance seawater desalination as part of efforts to expand alternative water sources for the public.

"Alongside relying on our existing supplies of clean surface water, groundwater, rivers, and lakes, we need to start developing seawater desalination," he stated during a National Water Self-Sufficiency Coordination Meeting in Jakarta on Thursday.

He added that seawater desalination—the process of converting seawater into fresh water—will be specifically targeted at small islands and coastal areas that lack adequate surface water resources.

Developing alternative water sources is critical, he said, as communities increasingly require larger quantities of clean water.

"We often hear people saying, 'Sir, we don't have clean water, it's so hard to get.' That is why we must find alternative water sources," he said.

To that end, the minister instructed his staff to explore seawater desalination technology as a long-term solution to address the clean water crisis in Balikpapan City, East Kalimantan.

Balikpapan currently faces a clean water deficit amid a prolonged dry season and the El Niño phenomenon, which have caused surface water levels at the Manggar and Teritip reservoirs to drop sharply.

Raw water supply in the area meets only 1,500 liters per second of the ideal 2,500 liters per second requirement.

The situation has become increasingly urgent as the city's population surges, driven by a massive influx of migrants since Balikpapan was designated as a supporting partner city for Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara.

He noted that seawater desalination technology has become increasingly mature and advanced globally.

He expressed hope that reevaluating the investment costs for this technology would yield a competitive and affordable pricing scheme for both local governments and the business sector, ensuring its sustainable implementation.

Translator: Suharsana Aji, Raka Adji
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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