Govt Repeals Moratorium on Islet G in Reclamation Project

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A coordinated meeting of the Maritime Ministry yesterday decided to repeal a moratorium on Islet G in the Jakarta Bay reclamation project. The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that the developer has met the requirements set by the government. “There is no more complaint about Islet G. All requirements have been met,” Luhut said after the meeting.

According to Luhut, the Environment and Forestry Ministry today will summon PT Muara Wisesa Samudra, the developer of Islet G and a subsidiary of property giant Agung Podomoro Land. The ministry will confirm the developer’s commitment to meet its obligations. “It will be concluded tomorrow; I will sign it. If not Tuesday, it’ll be Wednesday,” he said.

The Environment Ministry halted Islet G reclamation in May last year. It had told the developer the revise the environmental assessment analysis (amdal) and reclamation permit. The government had also warned of disruption of vital objects, such as coal-fired power plant (PLTGU) Muara Karang and Pertamina gas pipelines, due to sand dredging.

Read: Reclamation Project of Islet C, D Cannot be Stopped: Official 

Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya said that the government has decided to repeal the moratorium to provide certainty for the developer’s business. More so because the developer had met six requirements set by the government, she said. “Tomorrow [today] we will talk about the details. If all answers are right, we will immediately repeal the sanction,” she said.

Siti added that an environmental analysis document issued recently by Jakarta administration for Muara Wisesa will be used to monitor Islet G reclamation. The developer is also obliged to report the reclamation performance on a regular basis. “Failing that, we will freeze [the permit], we will repeal it again,” she said.

PT Muara Wisesa Samudra Project Director Andreas Leodra said that the development Islet G will not necessarily be easy despite the impending moratorium repeal. The company will need to hold more talks with contractors, for example, to procure foreign ships and other equipment. “It will take months to resume [the project],” Andreas said.

Tigor Hutapea, the coordinator of the so-called Coalition for Jakarta Bay, has urged the government to explain the reasons behind the moratorium repeal. He said that those who oppose the reclamation project had never been involved in the government’s decision-making policy. “There’s secrecy,” he said.

AVIT HIDAYAT