Gov’t Issues Regulation on Submarine Pipelines, Cable Systems

Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono (Photo by: Documentation of Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries)

Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono on Thursday (18/2), issued Decree of Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Number 14 of 2021 (Kepmen KP 14/2021) on the Submarine Pipelines and Cable Systems.

“Decree of Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Number 14/2021 is a reference to ensure the submarine pipelines and cable systems in the country’s territorial waters so that they become more orderly,” the Minister said, quoted by the website of Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Tuesday (23/3).

The Minister asserted that the regulation is also expected to strengthen the Marine Spatial Planning or Marine Zoning Plan so that it can provide legal certainty of doing business in the utilization of marine space, including the activities of laying out submarine pipelines and/or cables.

For the record, Kepmen KP 14/2021 contains a map attachment and a list of coordinates of 43 underwater pipeline segments, 217 underwater cable line segments, and 209 BMH (Beach Main Hole), including four designated landing stations, which is located in Batam, Kupang, Manado, and Jayapura.

In the meantime, the Ministry’s Director General of Marine Spatial Management Haeru Rahayu said that the regulation shows the Government’s commitment to managing marine space wisely. The long-standing mess of pipelines and cables can be resolved through the regulation.

“This ministerial decree is crucial since it involves all ministries and institutions. There are also some keywords in the regulation, including the aspects of sovereignty, the economy, and so on,” Haeru said.

Upon the issuance of the decree, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries together with related ministries and institutions is currently working on the business licensing process in the marine space. It is targeted that within the next two months, the business process will be finalized so that the utilization of marine space can be more optimal.

“Wisdom means a combination of sustainability while still looking at the ecosystem. We also take into account the welfare by striving for the economy. We must bridge these two corridors so that we can set the Procedure and Criteria Standard Norms (NSPK),” Haeru added.

Based on Kepmen KP 14/2021, Ministry of Defense is involved in the business licensing process. Ministry of Defense plays a role in issuing security clearance, which serves as a recommendation for the implementation of submarine pipelines and cable installation.

The stipulation of security clearance by Ministry of Defense stressed that the Government needs to ensure that underwater activities related to pipelines and cables system will not threaten the country’s sovereignty. (PR of Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries/AIT/UN) (RIF/MUR)