Batam industrial water supply developments

The water supply situation in Batam has become a point of tension between industrial expansion and local community needs. Residents have staged protests against water shortages, which they link to the rapid growth of data centers used for artificial intelligence. These facilities require significant water for server cooling.

Local utility operator Air Batam Hilir attributed shortages to an intense El Nino drought and electrical faults. In response to public frustration, authorities informed developers that they must construct seawater desalination plants to prevent further strain on municipal resources.

As part of these infrastructure developments, Citramas Group has commenced construction on a Sea Water Reverse Osmosis facility in the Kabil Industrial Estate. This project, valued at approximately 600 billion Indonesian Rupiah, is being executed in two stages to reach a total capacity of 700 liters per second. The first phase is expected to be operational by November 2027. Additionally, Citramas Group is accelerating the construction of a rainwater catchment reservoir in the Nongsa Digital Park area to secure industrial water supplies.

Recent protests have occurred outside the Nongsa Digital Park, a special economic zone hosting various tech facilities. While industry sources claim the tech park utilizes the Duriangkang Reservoir rather than the depleted Nongsa Reservoir, local tensions remain high. Experts suggest that Southeast Asian data center capacity could triple by 2030, raising long term concerns regarding energy and water security in the region.