US, Indonesia Strengthen Cooperation on Water Quality Management in Mining Sector

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The United States Embassy in Jakarta, in collaboration with the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), has completed a nine-day technical exchange program focused on improving water quality and environmental monitoring in the mining sector.

The Ambassador Water Expert Program (AWEP), held from June 8 to 18, 2026, brought U.S. water systems expert Steven Rice from the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service to Indonesia to share expertise and strengthen technical cooperation with local partners.

Through the exchange, both countries promoted mutual learning in addressing water resource management challenges in mining areas, according to a statement released by the US Embassy on Sunday, June 28, 2026.

During their visit, the delegation conducted field trips to Lombok and West Sumbawa to observe water management practices in mining regions. The activities provided opportunities for technical discussions on water quality parameters, treatment methods, and infrastructure development tailored to Indonesia's geographical and environmental conditions.

The delegation also held technical consultations with various stakeholders, including the Directorate of Water Quality Protection and Management at the Ministry of Environment, the Directorate of Engineering and Environment at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Research Center for Limnology and Water Resources, PT Amman Mineral, Ecolab (Nalco Indonesia), Nexus 3, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS), the University of Mataram, and Sumbawa University of Technology.

The program concluded with a workshop in Jakarta that brought together government officials, academics, experts, and conservation practitioners. Participants discussed findings from the field visits and identified opportunities for future cooperation in water quality management and the development of supporting infrastructure for the mining sector.

As part of the program, AWEP also hosted a panel discussion at @america titled Innovation in Action: Water Solutions for the US and Indonesia Toward Responsible Mining.

The discussion featured BRIN principal researcher in limnology and water resources Cynthia Henny, Ecolab Senior Director Tomy Suryatama, ITB Assistant Professor of Water Engineering Muhammad Sonny Abfertiawan, and US water systems expert Steven Rice.

"This technical exchange program reflects the strong cooperation between the United States and Indonesia in mining water systems expertise. Our water expert demonstrated American excellence in environmental management while gaining valuable insights from Indonesian colleagues' experience in managing water infrastructure in this important region," US Embassy spokesperson Jamie Ravetz said in a statement on Friday, June 26, 2026. (Diffa Sephiawardhani-EN)