Water Crisis Hits Nongsa SEZ, Affecting Residential and Business Areas
What happened
Demonstrations occurred in Batam, Riau Islands, as residents protested a clean water crisis in the area. The protests targeted the Nongsa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) management office after clean water supplies to residential areas were cut off, though water reportedly continued to flow to data centers inside the SEZ. The issue began around September 1, 2026, with supplies drastically decreasing before stopping completely.
From thestar.com.my
Why it matters
The crisis centers on the operational failures of the water supply infrastructure in Nongsa. Authorities, including the Batam Free Trade Zone Authority, stated they were investigating the cause of the stoppage to residential areas. The incident highlights the operational vulnerabilities of the key business zone within the city.
From thestar.com.my
Who's involved
- BatamCity where the crisis is centered and protests took place.
- NongsaDistrict where the SEZ is located and the water issues began.
- Riau IslandsArchipelago where the operational failure of a major business zone was noted.
- TelinCompany whose cross-border project operates within the context of Nongsa.