Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Mentarang Induk Hydropower Plant in Malinau Regency, North Kalimantan Province, March 1, 2023

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Good morning,
May peace be upon us all,
Shalom.

Distinguished Ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet, including Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment, Cabinet Secretary, and Minister of Investment in attendance;

Distinguished Premier of Sarawak and Deputy Premier of Sarawak;

Distinguished Speakers, Members of the House of Representatives of Indonesia, Governor of North Kalimantan, North Kalimantan Military Commander, and North Kalimantan Regional Police Chief;

Distinguished Regent of Malinau;

Distinguished Chairperson of the Consortium of the Mentarang Induk Hydropower Plant Boy Thohir;

Ladies and Gentlemen. 

Today, I am delighted that the construction of Mentarang Induk Hydropower Plant has begun, and I am even happier that the project is carried out by an Indonesia-Malaysia consortium. It shows that we, as brothers of the same roots, can well cooperate. It is our hope that in seven years the construction will be finished and will bring great benefits for all of us, in Malinau regency, in North Kalimantan province, as well as in all over Indonesia.

This is a hydropower plant that is integrated with the KIPI (Kalimantan Industrial Park Indonesia). The plant is located in Malinau, while KIPI is located in Bulungan regency. Since the source of energy is green, the products that will be produced later in the KIPI Area are also green products, products with low carbon emissions, products that have premium but competitive prices. Because the source comes from the Mentarang River in Malinau regency.

We expect, through a transmission, the area in Mentarang with be connected with the area in Bulungan spanning approximately 300 kilometers. This is not an easy job and requires a large budget of US$2.6 billion, if it is converted to Rupiah it will be around Rp40 trillion, a very large sum of money.

To that end, the Government supports this huge project and plan. It is our hope that Indonesia’s economic transformation to green economy can be carried out with the potentials we have.

In the KIPI area, we will, first, build the EV battery, batteries for electric cars, and also the electric car itself. The second is aluminum, the aluminum industry, which will also be built in the area. The aluminum called green aluminum because it’s from green energy. Third, we will start the petrochemical industry immediately. What does it mean? It means that the electric power is ready, the industrial area is ready. After it is connected, it will be the future of Indonesia.

That concludes my speech on this auspicious occasion. I also would like to express my gratitude to all customary leaders, religious leaders, especially people from the Dayak ethnic groups in Malinau regency for supporting this development project. It is our hope that the integrated project in Mentarang and Bulungan brings great benefit for all of us.

By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I hereby inaugurate the groundbreaking of the Mentarang Induk Hydropower Plant of PT Kayan Hydropower Nusantara.

I thank you.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

(AP/RAS/MMB)