AI boom sparks water shortages and protests on Indonesian island
Cooking and bathing became difficult when taps ran dry in Batam, an Indonesian island where residents are protesting as data centers spring up to power the global artificial intelligence boom.
Indonesia experienced a prolonged drought due to low rainfall and a strong El Nino cycle, leading to water shortages and protests in Batam, an island near Singapore. Local water utility operator Air Batam Hilir (ABH) attributed the shortage to the construction of a new data center cluster, Nongsa Digital Park, which uses large amounts of water for cooling servers.
Anger grew when the municipal water service frequently failed, forcing residents to skip showers and struggle to cook and clean. The nearby Nongsa Reservoir ran low due to the drought, and the supply system was further disrupted by an electrical fault. Authorities later ordered data centers to install seawater desalination plants for cooling.
However, the government denies that data centers caused the water crisis, attributing it to weather and climate factors. Data center capacity in Southeast Asia is expected to triple by 2030, putting pressure on water supplies and electricity grids. Despite the criticism, ABH supports policies encouraging investment and development in Batam, while Malaysia's Johor region, another AI hub, faces similar water and resource challenges.
Written by urgent.news from VnExpress International's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
