September 15, 2026 | 11:03 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Ministry of Public Works (PU) is bolstering preparedness for forest and land fires (karhutla) on Kalimantan Island by dispatching firefighting support equipment to five provinces; this initiative aims to accelerate fire response efforts while simultaneously meeting water supply needs in affected areas.
"The Ministry of Public Works will continue to take action based on conditions on the ground. While conditions vary, for us at the Ministry, the priority is to respond quickly to field requirements. I have instructed my team to remain on alert and mobilize, particularly to help maintain essential public services," said Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
The Directorate General of Water Resources (Ditjen SDA) is distributing the equipment through the Ministry’s River Basin Agencies (BWS) in West, Central, South, East, and North Kalimantan. The shipment is being transported by sea from Tanjung Priok Port, Jakarta.
A total of 13 additional equipment units have been prepared to strengthen the response to forest and land fires in Kalimantan. The equipment includes mobile pumps with a capacity of 250 liters per second, water tanker trucks, and 6-inch centrifugal pumps with a capacity of 41.6 liters per second.
West, Central, and South Kalimantan are each receiving one 5,000-liter water tanker truck, one 250-liter-per-second mobile pump, and one 6-inch centrifugal pump.
Meanwhile, the BWS Kalimantan IV Samarinda (serving East Kalimantan) and BWS Kalimantan V Tanjung Selor (serving North Kalimantan) are each receiving a 4,000-liter water tanker truck and a 6-inch centrifugal pump.
This shipment supplements the equipment already available in Kalimantan. In addition to the gear sent from Jakarta, other necessities—such as 3-inch centrifugal pumps, jet sprinklers, backpack pumps, extension hoses, and water storage tanks—will be procured directly by the respective agencies based on field requirements.
Director General of Water Resources Arnold A.P. Ritiauw stated that the availability of this equipment is a crucial component in accelerating the response to forest and land fires. "We hope the equipment prepared here will help accelerate the handling of forest and land fires in Kalimantan, particularly in supporting on-the-ground firefighting efforts. This equipment readiness is part of the Ministry of Public Works' support in addressing forest and land fire situations," he said.
The Directorate General of Water Resources will continue to coordinate with River Basin Organizations (BWS) across Kalimantan to ensure the equipment is ready for use and can be deployed according to field conditions and needs.
This measure is part of the Ministry of Public Works' efforts not only to build and manage water resource infrastructure but also to ensure that these assets are ready for deployment when the public faces emergency situations.
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