Indonesia plans 575 km sea wall to protect Java coast

The Indonesian government is developing a massive coastal protection project consisting of a 575-kilometer sea wall along the northern coast of Java. The plan, divided into 15 sections, aims to protect coastal cities, ports, industrial zones, and agricultural lands from flooding, tidal surges, and the effects of land subsidence.

Estimates from June 2025 valued the project at approximately $80 billion, with a potential implementation period of up to 20 years. The initiative has been designated a national strategic priority by President Prabowo Subianto’s administration. Infrastructure and Regional Development Coordination Minister Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono stated that the project is intended to protect both the country’s economy and its people.

The urgency of the project is driven by both rising sea levels and rapid land subsidence. Research published in the journal Science Advances by the Columbia Climate School indicates that land subsidence along much of northern Java is outpacing the impact of rising sea levels, with some areas sinking by as much as 1.5 meters per decade. Vulnerable regions include Jakarta, Cirebon, Semarang, and Surabaya.