Indonesia’s Giant Sea Wall Project Aims to Protect 50 Million People, Government Urged to Proceed with Caution

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JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Indonesia is preparing one of the world’s most ambitious climate-resilience projects: a 535-kilometer Giant Sea Wall stretching across the northern coast of Java, designed to protect about 50 million people from the rising sea levels and severe land subsidence threatening major cities such as Jakarta, Cirebon, Semarang, and Surabaya.

Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, or AHY, emphasized on Tuesday, Oct 21, 2025, that the project must not be rushed. He said the massive investment requires a rigorous feasibility study and credible risk assessment before implementation.

“This project is enormous and demands careful consideration,” AHY said at his office in Jakarta. “Saving the 50 million people living along the northern coast must be our collective priority, but every decision must be grounded in science and long-term sustainability.”

The Giant Sea Wall (GSW), initially conceived under earlier administrations as part of the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD) plan, has gained renewed urgency under President Prabowo Subianto. The president announced on Monday that his government is preparing to construct the entire 535-kilometer structure as a critical defense against annual sea-level rise, estimated at 5 centimeters per year.

“If necessary, we will extend it further,” Prabowo said during a plenary cabinet session at the State Palace. “This is to save 50 million people living along Java’s northern coast. The sea keeps rising every year, and this region is home to much of our industrial and agricultural base.”

Prabowo described the wall as a matter of national responsibility, aimed at safeguarding vital infrastructure, industrial estates, and fertile farmland that form the backbone of Indonesia’s food security and economic growth. “Tens of thousands of hectares of productive land and industrial zones are at stake,” he warned. “The state must protect its people and assets from poverty, hunger, disease, and natural disasters.”

AHY, who oversees strategic infrastructure coordination, said the government is currently reviewing technical studies and exploring partnerships with both domestic and international stakeholders. The newly established North Coast Java Management Authority (BOPPJ) has been tasked with synchronizing cross-sectoral collaboration and updating research for the project’s feasibility study.

“We need time to harmonize and modernize the research,” AHY said. “A credible study will ensure that the project effectively addresses the real challenges and doesn’t create new ones.”

He stressed that the project must meet strict standards of engineering quality and environmental sustainability. “We want to make sure the project achieves its purpose and provides long-term benefits for the people. We will not rush it, but we will not delay it either — the key is doing it right,” he stated.

Earlier this month, AHY also met with Swiss Vice President Guy Parmelin to discuss potential Swiss investment in sustainable infrastructure, including the Giant Sea Wall. He noted that Switzerland has long been a global leader in sustainable engineering, water management, and climate-resilient construction.

“We are open to technological and investment partnerships,” AHY said after the meeting. “Switzerland’s expertise in sustainable infrastructure can complement Indonesia’s needs. But discussions are still in the early stages, and no commitments have been made yet.”

He added that the cooperation could also extend to other strategic areas such as renewable energy, smart-city development, blue-economy infrastructure, and waste-management systems.

A preliminary concept image released by Investortrust shows a long green line tracing the proposed 535-kilometer coastal barrier, stretching from Banten in the west to Surabaya in the east — a structure that, if realized, could rival the Netherlands’ Delta Works and South Korea’s Saemangeum Seawall in scale.

Beyond its engineering magnitude, the GSW represents a test of Indonesia’s climate-adaptation capacity and governance discipline. Experts warn that without careful coordination and consistent maintenance, such mega-projects risk cost overruns or ecological disruption. AHY has pledged transparent oversight and international collaboration to ensure that the project remains accountable and environmentally sound.

“The essence is responsibility — protecting people, land, and future generations,” AHY said. “We are committed to that.”