President Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to inaugurate five dams that are part of the National Strategic Projects (PSN/NIP) on Friday (10/7). The inauguration is centred on the Meninting Dam in West Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), symbolising the commencement of operations for several water resource infrastructure projects across various regions in Indonesia.
In addition to the Meninting Dam, four other dams being simultaneously inaugurated include the Keureuto Dam and Rukoh Dam in Aceh, the Jlantah Dam in Central Java, and the Sidan Dam in Bali. The government assesses that the presence of these dams will strengthen water resource management while supporting national food security.
State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi explained that the Meninting Dam was built to address water availability challenges on Lombok Island. This infrastructure is expected to increase water supply for the agricultural sector, strengthen water security, and mitigate the impacts of climate change, including the threat of prolonged droughts triggered by El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).
According to Prasetyo, the dam, which has an inundation area of around 46 hectares, is projected to increase the cropping index in the NTB region from 280 percent to 300 percent. This increase is estimated to boost additional unhusked rice production by up to roughly 420 thousand tons each planting season.
The government also estimates that the economic benefits generated from the operation of the Meninting Dam will reach approximately Rp4.6 trillion. This value stems from increased agricultural productivity, water management efficiency, and other economic benefits developing in the surrounding area.
Prasetyo emphasized that the construction of water resource infrastructure will continue to be carried out gradually and in an integrated manner. This step is part of the government’s strategy to strengthen food security, support energy needs, preserve the environment, and enhance mitigation capacity against hydrometeorological disasters.
President Prabowo departed for NTB using the Indonesian Presidential Aircraft A-001 from the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base Ops Base, Jakarta, at 10:45 WIB. En route to the Zainuddin Abdul Madjid International Airport in Central Lombok, the President was accompanied by State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, and Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan.
