MALINAU, Indonesia — Indonesia is pressing ahead with construction of a new network of dams in Borneo to power a major “green” industrial estate that will relocate Indigenous communities and cut into one of Asia’s largest stretches of intact rainforest. “Finding fish and animals has already become difficult,” Yusmarang, a member of North Kalimantan’s Punan […]

This cascade of dams through the old-growth forests of northern Borneo will power a vast new industrial estate that authorities in Jakarta consider of strategic importance for Indonesia. The government says it hopes the Kalimantan Industrial Park Indonesia (KIPI) estate will be the largest “green industrial area” in the world.

“The industrial park, which covers an area of 13,000 hectares [32,000 acres], will be prepared for the development of the first EV battery, petrochemicals and aluminum industries,” Joko Widodo said on a visit to Bulungan district in 2023.

“We hope they will be supported by green energy, renewable energy and hydropower from the Mentarang River and the Kayan River in the province,” he added.

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The Hong River seems to be safe from dam projects… for now.