TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The development of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) in East Kalimantan is a long-term project that might take Indonesia 15 to 20 years to complete, according to presidential special staff Grace Natalie.

"We are referring to the overall progress when we talk about the 15 percent completion," she noted while referring to President Joko Widodo's earlier remarks about IKN's construction to have progressed to around 15 percent by August 17.

Natalia noted that in the first phase of construction from 2022 to 2024, the government had made notable progress in developing the State Palace, buildings of coordinating ministries, and supplies of water and electricity.

"The IKN, being built in an area about four times larger than that of Jakarta, is a major project that the government is currently working on," she reiterated.

Previously, on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, President Widodo appealed to the public to understand that the IKN is a long-term development project that cannot be completed within just two or three years.

"It still requires investment and still needs investors from within and outside (the country). We are pushing this," he noted in Jakarta.

The president also reiterated his keenness to relocate his office to Nusantara and start working there. However, Jokowi underlined that he would only move to the city after electricity and water facilities and his office were ready.

Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono ensured that supplies of clean water and electricity would be ready before the head of state started working in Nusantara.

The testing process for clean water has been underway since July 15.

Regarding power supply, Indonesia's future seat of government has now received 10 megawatts of electricity, and the capacity is to be increased to 40 megawatts.

Meanwhile, state-run construction and investment company PT PP expressed optimism about the construction of Nusantara's State Palace being completed ahead of a national ceremony for Indonesia's 79th Independence Day scheduled on August 17 at IKN.

ANTARA

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