Universitas Pelita Harapan and Public Works Ministry Host Seminar on National Water Security

TANGERANG, 2023 – Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) hosted the opening of the 2023 National Seminar on Large Dams, an event held in collaboration with the Indonesian Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) to address the nation’s pressing needs for water and energy security. The seminar, which ran from December 8-9, 2023, gathered approximately 2,000 practitioners, experts, and researchers to discuss the critical role of dams in the face of global climate change. 

The event served as a platform for dialogue on key issues including the development of dams resilient to climate change, ensuring dam safety against extreme weather and earthquakes, and enhancing the role of reservoirs in supporting renewable energy. More than 50 academic papers were presented by 75 speakers over the course of the seminar. 

In his opening remarks, Minister of PUPR, Dr. Ir. Mochamad Basuki Hadimuljono, M.Sc., emphasized the strategic importance of expanding Indonesia’s water infrastructure. He also thanked UPH for its hospitality in hosting this national seminar. The minister noted that while 61 dams were constructed in the last decade, a minimum of 50 additional dams will be required in the next five years to effectively manage water resources amid increasingly extreme weather patterns. He highlighted the need for innovation in dam design, pointing out that Indonesia’s current count of approximately 300 dams is significantly lower than that of other nations like China and South Korea. 

Dr. Stephanie Riady, B.A., M.Ed., President of Universitas Pelita Harapan, emphasized that UPH, as a higher education institution, always encourages its lecturers, experts, scientists, and students to be part of the solution to the challenges faced by Indonesia. Therefore, UPH views this national seminar as a very important activity and in line with UPH’s vision and mission. 

The collaboration between the Ministry, the Indonesian National Committee on Large Dams (KNI-BB), and academic institutions like UPH aims to foster innovative solutions and support the government’s long-term infrastructure goals. The seminar provided a vital forum for policymakers and technical experts to advance the national conversation on sustainable infrastructure development.