W. Nusa Tenggara. President Prabowo Subianto on Friday inaugurates five dams across Indonesia, marking the completion of strategic infrastructure projects worth Rp 9.79 trillion (about $542 million) aimed at strengthening the country's food and water security.

The inauguration ceremony was held at the Meninting Dam in West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara province. The newly inaugurated dams include the Meninting Dam in West Nusa Tenggara, the Keureuto and Rukoh dams in Aceh, the Jlantah Dam in Central Java, and the Sidan Dam in Bali.

"The five dams we inaugurate today represent a state investment of around Rp 9.79 trillion," Prabowo said during the ceremony.

Prabowo said the dams are expected to significantly boost Indonesia's agricultural output. Citing a report from Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman, he said the projects could help produce up to 1 million metric tons of rice annually when combined with modern farming technology and improved seed varieties.

He described the dams as more than physical infrastructure, calling them symbols of the government's commitment to ensuring reliable water supplies for communities and agriculture.

"These dams are only the beginning. We need to work even harder. We need larger dams," Prabowo said.

The president also reaffirmed his administration's commitment to expanding renewable energy infrastructure, including plans to develop up to 100 gigawatts of solar power capacity.

"We will build 100 gigawatts of solar power. We will carry out large-scale development, and the world will see what a rising Indonesia looks like," he said.

Prabowo urged local authorities to properly manage and maintain the dams so that irrigation water reaches farmers who depend on it.

"Take good care of these dams. Manage them well. Ensure that the water needed by farmers reaches them," he said, adding that supporting farmers is essential because "without food, there is no nation."

The five dams were constructed between 2015 and 2025 under Indonesia's National Strategic Projects program.

Together, they are supported by nearly 280 kilometers of irrigation canals capable of supplying water to about 39,540 hectares of farmland and are projected to support annual rice production of around 720,000 metric tons.

The dams have a combined storage capacity of approximately 371 million cubic meters of water, can supply 3.6 cubic meters of raw water per second, and are expected to reduce flooding across roughly 932 hectares.

They will also contribute to renewable energy generation through hydropower plants with a combined installed capacity of 9.635 megawatts and floating solar power facilities capable of generating up to 345.94 megawatts.

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