Batam data center expansion and resource concerns

Data center developers in Batam have initiated plans to implement seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination technology to meet the high fresh water demands required for operational cooling systems. Companies such as DayOne and PT Equator Gate System Batam (EGSB) have committed to building these facilities, with the intention of potentially providing excess water capacity to local communities.

However, the rapid expansion of these facilities has raised significant concerns regarding water and energy security in the Riau Islands. While BP Batam attributed the drying of the Nongsa Reservoir to the dry season, the massive water requirements of data centers—estimated at 1,000 liters per second—have fueled debate. Critics, including Kadin Kepri, have warned that desalination plants are expensive and produce high-salinity brine that may disrupt marine ecosystems, suggesting alternatives like rainwater harvesting.

Additionally, the projected energy demand for Batam’s data centers is expected to reach 2,000 MW, with Nongsa Digital Park alone potentially requiring up to 1,500 MW by 2032. This scale of consumption has led to calls for a moratorium on further development until the environmental and social impacts on local resources are fully assessed.