Environment and Sustainability (Japanese)

[2N03] Compensation Issues for Quarry on Upper Cisokan Pumped Storage Power Plant Project in Indonesia

*Shoji TSUTSUI¹, *Kenichi Tomioka² (1. NEWJEC Inc., 2. Global Utility Development Co., Ltd)

Keywords:hydropower, quarry, encroacher, sefeguard policy, land compensation

In the western part of Java Island in Indonesia, construction of the Upper Cisokan Pumped Storage Power Plant (UC Project, 1,040MW) has begun in order to ease the balance of power demand accompanying the development of renewable energy. The main structure consists of two dams (upper and lower), a waterway, and an underground powerhouse. For the construction, approximately 4 million tons of concrete aggregates will be supplied from a quarry. The quarry was used for the construction of the Sagling Hydropower Project in the 1980s and continued to be owned. However, after the land for the quarry was transferred to the construction company for the UC Project, it was revealed in February 2023 that encroachers have occupied the land for the quarry as water sources or cultivated lands. The Project owner has much concerned about compensating the land once compensated in the past and disclosed incompleteness of compensation being disclosed to the public. The author as the Engineer (in charge of technical and project management) proposed to the UC Project owner to proceed with the compensation in accordance with the safeguard policy of the international final institutions, and to build a Special Team consisting of the UC Project owner, the Engineer, and the construction company. Explanations to residents began in May 2023, and re-compensation in under process. First, it is important to explain the risks and practical solutions to the project owner who have little experience in the same case of compensation. Next, knowing the past history and presenting successful examples of compensation can guide the project owner in the direction of appropriate solutions. Finally, creating the Special Team of related parties led by the Engineer, makes it easier to obtain the consent of the parties involved.