President Prabowo Subianto has announced plans to construct a massive sea wall some 500 kilometers along the northern coast of Java Island, a project valued at US$80 billion (Rp1,298 trillion), aimed at combating the increasing threat of sea level rise and land subsidence in several vulnerable coastal cities.

To kickstart the project, Prabowo has instructed Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), to begin development in Jakarta Bay. He estimates that building this section of the sea wall will take between 8 to 10 years, with projected costs ranging from US$8 to US$10 billion.

Funding for the initial construction will come jointly from the Jakarta Provincial Administration and the Central government.

“(Special region of) Jakarta will contribute. So, half from the Jakarta Provincial Administration and another half from the central government. Because this is actually for Jakarta,” Prabowo said while addressing the closing of the International Infrastructure Conference at the Jakarta Convention Center on Thursday, June 12, 2025.

The president revealed plans to establish a dedicated authority body to accelerate construction efforts. He stressed the urgency of building the giant sea wall, citing the ongoing impact of rising sea levels in regions like Semarang, Pekalongan, and Brebes. The full construction from Banten to Gresik is projected to take 15 to 20 years.

“The government’s priority is Jakarta and Semarang,” he added.

At the event, Prabowo extended invitations to foreign construction companies from China, Japan, South Korea, the Middle East, and Europe to participate in the mega-project.

He also highlighted that the plan has been part of the national development agenda since 1995.

“Imagine, since 1995. But we won’t be discouraged. Now, there are no more delays. There’s no need for more talk − we will get it done immediately,” he asserted.

The push to expedite this coastal protection project aligns with efforts from previous administrations, including that of 7th President Joko Widodo. Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Airlangga Hartarto, noted that preliminary steps have already begun, including a sea wall development in coastal Jakarta valued at Rp164.1 trillion.

The urgency is driven by alarming environmental trends: land in northern Java is sinking at a rate of 1–25 cm annually, while the sea level is rising by 1–15 cm each year in some areas, contributing to tidal flooding.

According to Airlangga, the economic loss from annual flooding in coastal Jakarta currently reaches Rp1 trillion and could rise to Rp10 trillion per year within the next decade.

“So just in Jakarta, the loss could reach Rp10 trillion. Of course, this directly translates into lost opportunity costs,” Airlangga said during the National Seminar on the Giant Sea Wall in January 2024.