Indonesia Geological Agency targets groundwater conservation by 2045

The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) aims to complete the establishment of conservation zones for all 421 groundwater basins (CAT) in Indonesia by 2045. This initiative is designed to strengthen water resource resilience against climate change challenges.

Under the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the agency has set a medium-term priority to finalize conservation zones for the most urgent basins by 2029. Priority areas include high-density industrial zones, agglomerations, and regions experiencing drastic groundwater depletion. Specific priority basins include Jakarta, Bandung-Soreang, Semarang, Pekalongan-Pemalang, Karawang-Bekasi, Serang-Tangerang, and Palangka Raya-Banjarmasin.

Agency Head Lana Saria emphasized that these efforts must be supported by strict field supervision, increased compliance in groundwater use, and cross-agency coordination with local governments. Additionally, the agency will focus on improving geological mapping, updating geological data, and strengthening geological hazard mitigation to support resilient spatial planning and infrastructure development.