Indonesia implements emergency measures against El Nino drought

Indonesian government ministries are implementing emergency measures to mitigate the impacts of a strong El Nino phenomenon, which is expected to cause dry conditions lasting until early 2027.

The Ministry of Public Works has addressed drought impacts in 1,760 out of 2,200 identified locations. These interventions focus on three areas: meeting community water needs, protecting agricultural land, and supporting forest and land fire control. Efforts include pumping water to 104 agricultural sites, normalizing irrigation channels, and installing pipes for water distribution to support 53,052 hectares of rice fields.

Simultaneously, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is safeguarding critical energy infrastructure. Minister Bahlil Lahadalia reported that peatland fires recently threatened the Tangguh liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in West Papua. The National Disaster Management Agency utilized water-bombing helicopters to suppress the flames near the facility, which accounts for approximately 35 percent of Indonesia's national LNG output.