Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) emphasized that data center development across Indonesia must strictly preserve environmental balance and safeguard community welfare amidst rapid digital economy growth.
"The principle is that we encourage data center development without—I repeat—without harming, let alone disrupting, the environmental balance of the area," AHY said here on Monday.
"Communities have the right to live peacefully, comfortably, and healthily without having their basic needs compromised," the minister emphasized.
AHY acknowledged that expanding data center capacity is necessary to support e-commerce and digital adoption, adding that Indonesia holds strong potential to serve as a Southeast Asian digital hub.
However, as data centers require immense power supplies and vast volumes of clean water for cooling, AHY urged central and regional authorities to ensure all projects strictly comply with spatial planning rules and environmental impact standards.
"I leave it to the responsible authorities to ensure compliance with established standards and requirements, including environmental impact," AHY added.
The minister’s statement comes as West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi ordered an immediate halt to the construction of a 640-megawatt (MW) artificial intelligence (AI) data center owned by BDX Data Centers in Jatiluhur, Purwakarta Regency.
Following a surprise inspection, Governor Dedi suspended the project—which spans 8,000 square meters and began construction on September 22, 2026—for operating without an Environmental Impact Analysis (AMDAL) or Building Approval (PBG).
Technical data indicates the facility is projected to consume up to 384 liters of water per second—equivalent to 33,000 cubic meters daily—at full operational capacity, raising strong concerns among local farmers regarding potential water scarcity and noise pollution.
The West Java Provincial Government stated that while it supports digital infrastructure investment, BDX Data Centers management must fully fulfill all statutory licensing requirements with the Purwakarta Regency Government before resuming construction.
Provincial officials have also requested full public transparency regarding the project's technical studies, directing consultants to coordinate with local water authorities Perum Jasa Tirta (PJT) II and PDAM Purwakarta to protect public water supplies.
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Translator: Suharsana Aji Sasra J. C., Yashinta Difa
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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