Proposals for a Sulawesi Canal, or an Equatorial Canal (Indonesian : Kanal Khatulistiwa), through the island of Sulawesi to connect the Gulf of Tomini with the Makassar Strait, have existed since the early 2000s. The aim is to create a busy international sea route that will shorten the sea transport distance from the eastern part of Sulawesi Island to the western part of Indonesia, as well as to the Philippines and Malaysia. [1]
The idea of making a canal though Sulawesi was suggested as early as the 2000's. The building of the canal was pressed by the Head of the Central Sulawesi Marine and Fisheries Service, Dr. Hasanuddin Atjo, in the context of the implementation of the Masterplan for the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesian Economic Development (MP3EI) under the presidency of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. [2] [3] According to Hasanuddin, the idea to build the Equatorial Canal was initially proposed by then Governor of Gorontalo province, Fadel Muhammad, during a meeting of Sulawesi governors in Palu in early 2008. After his inauguration as Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Fadel Muhammad had conveyed this idea to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and even Bappenas and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries have provided support to develop a strategic plan for the development of this canal which is integrated with the management of Tomini Bay. [3] The canal plan also had a Strategic Plan (Renstra) document, but at that time it was not considered too urgent. [4] [5] Thus no action has been taken on its realization.
On 30 January 2015, the idea of building the canal was then resurfaced by the new Governor of Gorontalo province, Rusli Habibie. The proposal was made when he was given the opportunity to present a regional programme related to the potential development of the Indonesian Sea Route Region II (ALKI II) at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Office. [6] [7] According to the Governor, the Sulawesi Canal, which is located in the "neck" of Sulawesi Island, was seen as very strategic to encourage the development of ALKI, especially for the central part of Indonesia. The canal is to facilitate access to sea transport connecting Western and Eastern Indonesia. [7] [8] In addition to proposing the Sulawesi Canal, Rusli also proposed that in the implementation of APBN project work in the regions to consider local entrepreneurs and human resources. This is intended so that the regional economy can grow better. [6] With this, six local governments in Sulawesi agreed on planning to build an equatorial canal that will cut across the island of Sulawesi. The six provinces are Gorontalo, South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, and North Sulawesi. [8]
On 5 August 2019, Member of Commission VII of the People's Representative Council from the NasDem faction, Ahmad Ali, reiterated the idea of the canal. This follows the discourse on the proposal of moving the capital city of Indonesia to island of Kalimantan as initiated by President Joko Widodo. [9] [1] Ali has said that the Sulawesi canal will also provide access to the South China Sea route. So that in the future it can become a gateway, especially for the Eastern Indonesia region. [1] [10] During this, He analyzed that the route will summarise logistical journeys from the east, especially the transport of Morowali steel manufacturing materials, Banda Sea Fisheries, Cloves, crops from the Timor and Maluku Islands, will automatically sail through this route to the South China Sea. [1] [10] However, he sees the need for studies, especially related to geological safety as so that all geological risks can be reduced. This is because the Sulawesi neckline that will become the object of the Sulawesi canal is located on the Palu Koro fault area. [10] The same fault that caused the 2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami. [11]
The Equatorial Canal could become a busy international sea route and would shorten sea transport distances from the eastern part of Sulawesi Island to western Indonesia, as well as to the Philippines and Malaysia.[ citation needed ]
However, the project is not without its controversies. There were many protests when six governors planned to build the canal. At first glance, the canal would bring economic progress, although there was a price to pay. What is certain is the destruction of the Sulawesi ecosystem, which is known to be rich in unique biodiversity and is included in Wallacea. The canal will potentially damage the world's ocean current system and the ecology of the Gulf of Tomini and the Sulawesi Sea.[ citation needed ]
The canal would also benefit the sustainability of the gas industry in Sulawesi, especially the shipping of LNG products from PT Donggi Senoro LNG in Luwuk, Banggai, Central Sulawesi. [12]
And with the prospects of Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara, the effect of moving the national capital from Jakarta to Kalimantan would be seen as a way to accelerate business and economy of Sulawesi and eastern provinces. [13]
Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie was an Indonesian politician, engineer and scientist who served as the third president of Indonesia from 1998 to 1999. Less than three months after his inauguration as the seventh vice president in March 1998, he succeeded Suharto, who resigned after 32 years in office. Originating from Sulawesi with Bugis-Gorontalese and Javanese ancestry, his presidency was seen as a landmark and transition to the Reform era.
Central Sulawesi is a province of Indonesia located at the centre of the island of Sulawesi. The administrative capital and largest city is located in Palu. The province borders the provinces of Gorontalo to the east, Southeast Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, and West Sulawesi to the south, and sharing maritime borders with East Kalimantan to the west, North Maluku to the east, and Malaysia and the Philippines to the north.
Poso is the administrative capital of Poso Regency, Indonesia. It is the main port and transportation hub for the central-southern coast of Central Sulawesi. Its urban area consists of three districts, Poso Kota, North Poso Kota, and South Poso Kota. Poso lies in the middle of the province on the shore of the Gulf of Tomini, right in the central part of Sulawesi Island. With a total population of 47,477 in 2020, it is one of the biggest and oldest towns in the province.
North Sulawesi is a province of Indonesia. It is mainly located on the Minahasa Peninsula of the island of Sulawesi, south of the Philippines and southeast of Sabah, Malaysia, but also includes various small archipelagoes situated between the Minahasa Peninsula and the southern Philippines. It borders the Philippine province of Davao Occidental and Soccsksargen regions of the Philippines to the north, the Maluku Sea to the east, Gorontalo and Celebes Sea to the west and the Gulf of Tomini to the southwest. The province's furthest extent, the outlying and isolated island of Miangas to its north, is the northernmost island of Indonesia.
Palu, officially known as the City of Palu, is the capital and largest city of Central Sulawesi Province in Indonesia. Palu is located on the northwestern coast of Sulawesi and borders Donggala Regency to the north and west, Parigi Moutong Regency to the east, and Sigi Regency to the south. The city boundaries encompass a land area of 395.06 km2 (152.53 sq mi). According to the 2020 Indonesian census, Palu had a population of 373,218, making it the third-most populous city on the island after Makassar and Manado; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 387,493 - comprising 194,340 males and 193,150 females. Palu is the center of finance, government, and education in Central Sulawesi, as well as one of several major cities on the island. The city hosts the province's main port, its biggest airport, and most of its public universities.
The Togian Islands are an archipelago of 56 islands and many offshore islets, situated in the Gulf of Tomini, off the coast of Central Sulawesi, in Indonesia. The largest islands are Batudaka, Togean, Talatako, Una-Una, Walea Bahi, Walea Kodi and Malenge. There are 59 villages on the islands, with one settled by the Bajau people, more commonly known as the sea gypsies.
The Minahasa Peninsula, also spelled Minahassa, is one of the four principal peninsulas on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. It stretches north from the central part of the island, before turning to the east and forming the northern boundary of the Gulf of Tomini and the southern boundary of the Celebes Sea.
Gorontalo is a city and the capital of the Gorontalo Province, Sulawesi, Indonesia. The city has an area of 79.59 km2 and had a population of 179,991 at the 2010 census and 198,539 at the 2020 census; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 205,390. Previously part of North Sulawesi, it became the capital of the newly-formed Gorontalo Province on 5 December 2000 when that province was separated from North Sulawesi. As the largest settlement and the only city in the province, it is the economic, political, and educational center of the province, hosting most of its universities and is the location of one of the only two public university in the province.
This is a list of some of the regions of Indonesia. Many regions are defined in law or regulations by the central government. At different times of Indonesia's history, the nation has been designated as having regions that do not necessarily correlate to the current administrative or physical geography of the territory of the nation.
Tarakan is an island and co-extensively the sole city within the Indonesian province of North Kalimantan. The island city is the largest urban area in North Kalimantan population-wise and is located in northern Borneo, midway along the coast of the province. The city boundaries are co-extensive with the island. Once a major oil-producing region during the colonial period, Tarakan had great strategic importance during the Pacific War and was among the first Japanese targets early in the conflict. It is the sole city within the newly established Indonesian province of North Kalimantan. According to Statistics Indonesia, the city had a population of 193,370 at the 2010 Census and 242,786 inhabitants at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 249,960.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Indonesia:
Penajam North Paser Regency or Penajam–North Paser Regency is a regency in the Indonesian province of East Kalimantan. Its administrative centre is the town of Penajam. The area which now forms Penajam North Paser was part of the Paser Regency until its creation as a separate regency on 10 April 2002. It covers an area of 3,333.06 km2 and it had 142,922 inhabitants at the 2010 census and 178,681 at the 2020 census; the official estimate as at mid-2023 was 196,566. Penajam North Paser Regency has the smallest area among the seven regencies in East Kalimantan province.
The capital of Indonesia, officially the capital of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, is Jakarta, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Southeast Asia. However, since the enaction of the Special Region of Jakarta Act, Jakarta lost its de jure status as capital of Indonesia, and currently in transitional period to its relocation to Nusantara.
Gorontalo is a province of Indonesia on the island of Sulawesi. Located on the Minahasa Peninsula, Gorontalo was formerly part of the province of North Sulawesi until its inauguration as a separate province on 5 December 2000. The province is bordered by the provinces of North Sulawesi to the east and Central Sulawesi to the west, as well sharing a maritime border with the Philippines in the Sulawesi Sea to the north, and a coastline on the Gulf of Tomini to the south. The provincial capital, as well as the main gateway to the province and its most populated city, is Gorontalo. The size is comparable to Vanuatu.
Islam in Central Sulawesi, a province of Indonesia, is the majority religion embraced by around 75% of the province's 2,683,722 inhabitants . The propagators of Islam were thought to enter Central Sulawesi through neighboring regions, namely Bone, Wajo, and Mandar from the south and west routes, and through Gorontalo and Ternate from the north and east routes via Tomini Bay and Tolo Bay.
On 28 September 2018, a shallow, large earthquake struck in the neck of the Minahasa Peninsula, Indonesia, with its epicentre located in the mountainous Donggala Regency, Central Sulawesi. The magnitude 7.5 quake was located 70 km (43 mi) away from the provincial capital Palu and was felt as far away as Samarinda on East Kalimantan and also in Tawau, Malaysia. This event was preceded by a sequence of foreshocks, the largest of which was a magnitude 6.1 tremor that occurred earlier that day.
Nusantara, officially the Capital City of Nusantara, is the future capital of Indonesia, scheduled to be inaugurated on 17 August 2024, coinciding with Indonesian Independence Day. Nusantara will replace Jakarta as the national capital, a position the latter city has held since the country's proclamation of independence in 1945.
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