• Wildfires have burned about 400 hectares around Indonesia’s planned capital Nusantara, including roughly 300 hectares at Bukit Suharto forest park.
• Authorities have requested water bombing and cloud seeding as Indonesia confronts its most difficult dry season in a decade.
• The fires add fresh pressure to the $32 billion capital project, which has already faced delays, budget cuts and questions over water security.

Wildfires have spread into areas surrounding Indonesia’s planned capital Nusantara, forcing authorities to step up emergency measures as the country battles one of its toughest dry seasons in years.

Around 400 hectares had burned near Nusantara by September 2, according to Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency. The largest fire affected about 300 hectares of Bukit Suharto forest park, roughly 50 kilometres from the new city centre.

The authority overseeing Nusantara has asked disaster officials to conduct cloud seeding and water-bombing operations.

Agus Riyanto, director for emergency response at the disaster mitigation agency, said a helicopter would be moved from neighbouring South Kalimantan to fight the fires.

Cloud conditions were not yet suitable for seeding, he said. Authorities plan to begin operations once atmospheric conditions allow.

Indonesia Expands Fire Response

Indonesia is already fighting widespread forest and land fires across Borneo and Sumatra.

Six of the hardest-hit provinces have become the focus of intensified efforts to contain haze and prevent further damage. Fires have affected 73,311 hectares so far.

Authorities currently have 53 aircraft conducting water bombing and cloud-seeding operations. Japan has also provided aircraft and personnel to support the response.

The challenge has grown as Indonesia experiences what officials described as the most difficult dry season in a decade. Conditions have been exacerbated by a “super El Nino” phenomenon.

Eastern Borneo had remained relatively protected as fires intensified following the start of the dry season in July. Nusantara is located in East Kalimantan, where large areas of forest surround the development zone.

The spread of fires closer to the planned capital now brings climate resilience directly into the project’s development debate.

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Nusantara Faces Renewed Climate Risks

Former President Joko Widodo announced plans for Nusantara in 2019 as a replacement for Jakarta.

The $32 billion project was designed partly to reduce pressure on the existing capital, which faces chronic congestion, flooding and severe land subsidence.

Development has slowed since President Prabowo Subianto took office in 2024. The project has faced delays and budget reductions, increasing scrutiny over its cost and long-term viability.

The latest fires raise another challenge: whether the new capital can withstand worsening climate and environmental risks.

Wisnubroto Sarosa, an urban and planning expert, said Nusantara’s location creates structural vulnerabilities. The city is surrounded by forests and has limited water supplies, although wildfire risk remains lower than in western and central Borneo.

That water constraint could become increasingly important for planners. A new administrative capital requires reliable supplies for households, infrastructure and emergency response, particularly during prolonged dry periods.

Climate Resilience Moves Up the Agenda

For policymakers and investors, the fires add a new dimension to Nusantara’s governance and financing risks.

Large public infrastructure projects increasingly face scrutiny not only over construction costs, but also over climate resilience. Investors, contractors and government agencies must consider whether assets can operate under hotter, drier and more volatile conditions.

The emergency response also shows the financial burden attached to climate adaptation. Aircraft deployment, water bombing and cloud seeding can reduce immediate damage, but they do not eliminate the underlying exposure.

Indonesia’s government must therefore balance continued investment in Nusantara with wider spending on fire prevention, land management and water security.

The crisis has also taken on a human dimension.

Hundreds of Muslims gathered outside the state palace in Nusantara on Friday to perform “Istisqo” prayers asking for rain.

“We must seek God’s forgiveness and if it’s granted, Allah will send abundant rain,” Rusdi Abdullah, the preacher, said.

For Indonesia, protecting Nusantara has become more than a construction challenge. The fires are testing whether one of Southeast Asia’s largest infrastructure projects can withstand the climate pressures already reshaping the region.