TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government has opened a liquefaction research center in the country dubbed Nalodo Center that would involve international experts and researchers. Liquefaction is a process of making something, especially a gas, liquid.

“Indonesia highly concerns about developing a research center on liquefaction by involving many practitioners dubbed Nalodo Center,” said Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono in a written statement received in Jakarta, Wednesday, June 26.

The name Nalodo in a local language of Palu City, Central Sulawesi means buried in mud or sinking land.

The Minister conveyed his statement as the deputy head of High-Level Experts and Leaders Panel (HELP) on Water and Disasters during the 4th UN Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters at the UN Headquarter in New York, Monday, June 24.

HELP, that is currently led by former Prime Minister of South Korea Han Seung So, is one of the expert panels that provide recommendation for the UN Sec-Gen related to water resources and disaster mitigation.

Attended by decision makers, state leaders, experts, and practitioners from various countries such as Japan, Netherlands, South Korea, Australia, and African countries, the panel meeting was held to discuss issues regarding disaster management, such as the earthquake in Palu, Central Sulawesi in September 2018 that followed by a tsunami and liquefaction.

Minister Basuki mentioned Nalodo Center was built to improve understandings on liquefaction through developed and innovative research, as well as to develop and spread the advanced technology system in dealing with liquefaction.

The Minister also suggested a stronger international collaboration in building the country’s strength to face disasters. “I’d like to raise the world's awareness, especially certain countries that likely have similar geological conditions with Palu, Indonesia. The research center is expected to produce more studies on liquefaction with high quality across the world,” he concluded.

ANTARA