Accelerating the development of Indonesia’s infrastructure through better engineering

The efficiency and effectiveness of these infrastructure programs has been constrained, however, by various challenges. These have included complex land acquisition processes, a lack of resources to complete the required assessments, insufficient procurement capacity, outdated design standards, and feasibility studies and detailed engineering designs of insufficient quality. Improving project preparation and infrastructure planning and delivery is therefore critical to enabling MPWH to meet its ambitious development targets.

To help MPWH achieve its objectives, the Accelerating Infrastructure Delivery through Better Engineering Services Project (ESP) was initiated. The aim of the project is to improve the quality and ensure the timely launch of MPWH’s infrastructure projects by:

1. providing technical expertise and advice – for example, preparing feasibility studies; detailed engineering designs; environmental, technical and financial assessments; and final business cases;
2. managing public investment by training project staff at central and local levels in the prioritising of public investment and the implementation of action plans for strengthening master planning and public investment management systems.

Together with five other companies – PT. Gafa Multi Consultants, PT. Duta Cipta Mandiri Engineering Consultant, DOHWA Engineering Co., Ltd., PT. Reka Desindo Mandiri and PT. Prospera Consulting Engineers – the experts at Witteveen+Bos were asked to provide onboarding services on several projects for this initiative, sharing their technical knowledge, experience and expertise.

Part of MPHW’s plan consists of developing wastewater management and sewerage systems in a number of Indonesian cities that currently lack them. Our experts were asked to provide their consulting and engineering services for two such projects in Mataram and Semarang. The scope of work comprised the following:

• a feasibility study;
• surveying work (geotechnical, topographical and water quality);
• a basic design for wastewater treatment plants, including sludge treatment;
• a detailed engineering design (DED) for the sewerage network and other supporting facilities;
• FIDIC bidding documents and employer’s requirements in line with international standards;
• a standard operating procedure (SOP) and training materials for the plant’s staff.

Our team also assisted with social and economic evaluations; socialisation and institutional development processes; permitting, land acquisition and resettlement (LARAP); and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA/AMDAL).

For the regencies of Polewali Mandar and Majene (West Sulawesi), we provided consulting and engineering services in connection with the development of a regional water supply system, another component of MPWH’s infrastructure program. There are currently three districts in the area for which the water supply is arranged separately, which creates water deficit issues. To improve the situation, a plan was drawn up to organise the system at a regional level, with the aim of improving supply and demand as well as quality. Our contribution included:

• a feasibility study (including a real demand survey);
• various surveys (geotechnical, topographical and other surveying work);
• a detailed engineering design of the water treatment and distribution systems;
• bidding documents and employer’s requirements;
• a standard operating procedure (SOP) and training materials for the plant’s staff;
• an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA/AMDAL) and land acquisition and resettlement action plan (LARAP), including all required safeguard documents.

As the financing of this project is divided between different government bodies (central, provincial and municipal/regency), we also assisted in preparing a Mutual Agreement (KSB) and Cooperation Agreement (PKS), utilising our knowledge of local regulations.