Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Inauguration of Temef Dam at South Central Timor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, October 2, 2024

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Good morning,

May peace be upon us all,

Shalom.

Distinguished Ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet, attending Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Health;

Distinguished Governor of East Nusa Tenggara, Regent of South Central Timor, President Director of Waskita Karya, President Director of Indra Karya, Operations Director of PT Nindya Karya, religious leaders, indigenous leaders;

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen;

Good morning to all my children.

Water is a very vital commodity that we need in our daily lives. Especially in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), it is very essential. Thanks to water we can plant rice, cassava, and corn. Water is the key to East Nusa Tenggara’s prosperity. Without water, East Nusa Tenggara will unlikely be flourishing and prosperous.

Therefore, in the last ten years, the Government has built four dams in East Nusa Tenggara: Rotiklot, Raknamo, Napun Gete, and the current one is Temef Dam in South Central Timor.

The Temef Dam has been built since 2017. That means, it has been seven years since then. That is understandable since this dam is very large with an inundation area of 298 hectares. It will be able to capacitate 45 million cubic meters of water. It is a huge dam which will be very useful for farmers to plant rice, corn, cassava, and others. It can also reduce flooding in South Central Timor and Malaka regencies.

The development of Temef Dam costs Rp2.7 trillion, or Rp2,700 billion. This amount of money can help the people of East Nusa Tenggara to irrigate approximately 4,500 hectares of rice fields. This is very large.

Therefore, after the construction is finished, in the next rainy season, the dam is only 20 percent filled with water. Perhaps in January, the dam will be 100 percent full.

I entrust the Regent to make good use of the Temef Dam for the prosperity and welfare of the people in South Central Timor and the surrounding area.

That concludes my remarks.

(The President conducted quizzes with students)

Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes my remarks. By the blessing of God the Almighty, this morning, I hereby inaugurate Temef Dam in South Timor Tengah regency, East Nusa Tenggara province.

I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

(AW/MUR)