President Jokowi Begins Initial Water Filling of Sepaku Semoi Dam

President Jokowi visits Sepaku Semoi Dam, North Penajam Paser regency, East Kalimantan province, Thursday (09/21). (Photo by: Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat/Muchlis Jr)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Thursday (09/21) started initial water filling or impounding of Sepaku Semoi Dam in North Penajam Paser regency, East Kalimantan province. As a symbolic gesture, he rotated the lever to dam the water.

Director General of Water Resources of Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, Bob Arthur Lombagia, said that the progress of the Sepaku Semoi Dam construction has reached 97 percent. According to him, the impounding could be performed as the dam has obtained recommendation for initial filling from the Dam Safety Commission.

The Sepaku Semoi Dam was established to provide raw water supply in Nusantara Capital (IKN) region and its surrounding. It will have a capacity of 2,000 liter per second for IKN area and 500 liter per second for  Balikpapan.

“In the downstream area, there are occasional floods, so this dam will function both for raw water supply and flood control,” Bob Said.

Also accompanying President Jokowi on this occasion were Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of State Secretariat Pratikno, Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board Bahlil Lahadalia, Chair of the IKN Authority Bambang Susantono and Governor of North Kalimantan Isran Noor. (Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat/AIT) (SS/FI)