Ministry of Public Works Changes Construction Method for Sabo Dam at Mount Semeru Jakarta, 7 November 2026 – The Indonesian Ministry of Public Works (PU) announced a change in the construction approach for the Sabo Dam on Mount Semeru in Lumajang. The new method will build components in a safe location before transporting them to the dam site, rather than constructing directly in the river channel that is prone to cold lahars. Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo explained that the shift is necessary to prevent loss of work and materials when a sudden eruption or lahar flood occurs. “The construction pattern must be changed. Work can be done first outside the Sabo Dam site, in a safer location and not too far away. Once ready, it is then gradually installed at the construction point,” he said in Jakarta on Saturday. Hanggodo noted that the previous approach exposed all materials, formwork, and fresh concrete directly in the lahar path. “If a flood comes, everything is washed away. By moving the work to a safer area, we can minimize damage to the work and materials if an eruption or cold lahar follows,” he added. The Sabo Dam is intended to serve as a primary barrier to hold volcanic material, control the flow of cold lahars, and protect settlements and infrastructure along the river. However, the dam’s construction has repeatedly suffered from the very hazards it is meant to mitigate. Emergency Response Operations Alongside the new construction strategy, the PU is accelerating emergency response at three affected locations—Sumbersari, Tempursari, and Jugosari in the village of Sumberwuluh—up to 6 November 2026. A total of four excavators are deployed across the sites. Sumbersari – The dam’s embankment, originally 45 m long and 8 m high, has been repaired to a height of 6 m. An access ramp for heavy equipment has been raised by 0.5 m over a 15‑m stretch, with a width of 3 m. One excavator is supporting the work. Tempursari – The Brantas Water and Sanitation Agency (BBWS) is constructing an emergency dam and diverting the river channel over a 600‑m stretch. The project also includes repairing a 150‑m section of a village road that was severed and closing the upstream river channel. Two excavators are assisting. Jugosari – The Ministry continues to provide support, though specific details of the work at this site were not disclosed in the briefing. The PU emphasized that the new construction method is expected to be safer, faster, and more resilient against future eruptions.
Article source: Koran Jakarta | Image credit: Koran Jakarta