The West Java Provincial Government has temporarily stopped construction of BDx's artificial intelligence (AI) data center in Jatiluhur, Purwakarta, after Governor Dedi Mulyadi conducted an inspection at the project site (28/09).

The suspension was triggered by incomplete key permits, including the Environmental Impact Assessment (AMDAL) and Building Approval (PBG), which are required for large-scale construction projects.

West Java Communication and Informatics Agency Head Adi Komar said the suspension would continue until all required documents were complete and complied with applicable regulations.

"The project was temporarily stopped yesterday, Monday (28/9/2026), when the Governor directly conducted an inspection at the project site," Adi said on Tuesday (29/09).

Why the Jatiluhur AI Data Center Project Was Stopped

The temporary suspension was related to administrative and environmental compliance rather than construction issues alone.

The West Java Government said large-scale projects such as AI data centers must meet all applicable requirements before construction can continue.

"There are several things that we also pay attention to, such as regulations and compliance with applicable requirements. Moreover, this project is quite large in scale," Adi said.

Adi explained that the authority to issue the AMDAL and PBG rests with the Purwakarta Regency Government, while the West Java Provincial Government is responsible for supervision and coordination across sectors.

"AMDAL and PBG permits are issued by the Purwakarta Regency Government. The Governor was very thorough yesterday, so when several processes were confirmed, one of them being AMDAL, it turned out that it was still being processed," Adi said.

Jatiluhur Data Center Raises Water Use Concerns

One of the main concerns raised by the local government is the project's large water requirement.

In the initial stage, the data center is estimated to require around 6,000 cubic meters of water per day. At a later stage, water demand is projected to reach 384 liters per second, or around 33,000 cubic meters per day.

Dedi Mulyadi said the project's water needs must not interfere with the interests of local communities, particularly farmers in the Jatiluhur area.

He also called for all environmental aspects to be assessed transparently from the beginning because of the long-term impact of operating an AI-based data center.

The Governor further requested that changes in water requirements be carefully assessed and publicly disclosed so they do not cause concern among the community.

Jatiluhur is also an important irrigation support area in West Java, making the project's potential effect on agricultural water distribution a key concern.

"When concerns about BDx, water, and noise appear on social media, the consultants should answer them," Dedi said.

Dedi Mulyadi Calls for AMDAL Transparency

Dedi Mulyadi has also highlighted the need for greater transparency in the preparation of the project's AMDAL.

He said the AMDAL should not be treated only as an administrative document but also as public information that can be accessed by the community.

"AMDAL is a public matter, not a private matter," Dedi said in a written statement on Tuesday (29/09).

He asked the Purwakarta Regency Environmental Agency to publish the parties involved in preparing the AMDAL, including the consultants and expert teams conducting the assessment.

"This is an era of openness. The Purwakarta Regency Environmental Agency is ordered by law... to prepare an environmental impact analysis," he said.

Dedi said transparency is needed so the public can fully understand the potential environmental impacts of the large-scale project.

The BDx AI data center in Jatiluhur is an investment worth around Rp3.5 trillion. The facility is planned to have six buildings with a capacity of up to 640 MW and is located on around 11 hectares of land within a development area of 8,000 square meters.

PHOTO: MAGNIFIC

This article was created with AI assistance.

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