Rempang Eco-City is a proposed industrial, service, and tourism area on Pulau Rempang, Riau Islands, Indonesia.
Rempang Eco City is part of the 2023 National Strategic Program (PSN). The project aims to attract investment of approximately IDR 381 trillion ($24.8 billion USD in September 2023) by 2080, with 30 thousand workers.
The development is a joint project between the Batam Indonesia Free Zone Authority (BP Batam) and PT Makmur Elok Graha (MEG), in partnership with Xinyi Glass from China. Xinyi manufacture glass and solar-panels, and they propose to build one of the largest glass factories in the world on the island.
The developer has been allocated over 17,000 hectares of land covering the islands of Rempang and Subang Mas. Residents of villages of Rempang are being forced to relocate to a resettlement area on the island of Galang.
Rempang Eco City maps
[Map of Rempang Eco City.]
[Rempang 7 Zone Development (via fortuneidn.com).]
[PT Meg concession from BP Batam until 2080 (via @fraksirakyat_id).]
Links and resources
BP Batam: Batam Indonesia Free Zone Authority
PT Makmur Elok Graha (MEG)
Xinyi Glass
News archive
2024
BP Batam Denies Abuse of Power Allegations in Rempang Eco-City Project – [11/01/24]
Batam ground breaks on model home for Rempang residents – [11/01/24]
2023
Locals have high hopes for Rempang project economic benefits – [23/11/23]
Rempang Eco-City: 83 families relocate to temporary housing – [23/11/23]
China in land rights battle for Rempang Island – [22/11/23]
“To make way for the Rempang Eco-City project, 7,500 local inhabitants must move.”
A land rights battle for Indonesia’s Rempang Island – [18/11/23]
China-funded eco-city threatens Indonesian islanders’ way of life – [17/11/23]
Rempang residents in HPK areas currently unable to be relocated, BP Batam says – [07/11/23]
Rempang residents continue to resist national strategic project – [02/11/23]
Rempang land dispute casts new spotlight on old complaints over Chinese investments in Indonesia – [22/10/23]
Rempang Eco-City: 52 families now live in temporary housing – [20/10/23]
Rempang Eco-City: ‘We will not leave’, say the islanders fighting eviction – [20/10/23]
‘Just let me die here’: Why locals on Indonesia’s Rempang oppose eviction for China-backed project – [18/10/23]
“The Indonesian government wants to develop Rempang into an eco-city that will pull in some US$26.6 billion in investment, but some 7,500 villagers oppose having to leave their ancestral land.”
BP Batam offers scholarships, training for relocated Rempang locals – [14/10/23]
The majority of Rempang residents refuse relocation – [08/10/23]
“The Riau Islands Representative Ombudsman stated that more than 70 percent of residents in five old villages rejected evictions related to the Rempang Eco City project. The government, which stated that the majority of residents agreed to be relocated, was urged to reveal the data.”
Some 400 families in Rempang agree to relocate: Investment Minister – [10/10/23]
Investment minister claims no problem on Rempang Island albeit widespread objections – [06/10/23]
‘Save our village’: Rempang residents resist eviction for China-backed project – [05/10/23]
Rempang Eco-City: 16 families move to temporary housing – [05/10/23]
Govt urges locals to move from Rempang soon – [04/10/23]
“Authorities are urging residents on Rempang in Riau Islands to immediately relocate to make way for the eco-city project on the island, amid opposition from locals over insufficient compensation for the affected people.”
Indonesian villagers vow to resist Chinese-funded project, fearing ‘cultural genocide’ on Rempang Island – [04/10/23]
Government admits lack of certainty in Rempang investment – [03/10/23]
Visit to Tanjung Banon indicates Eco-City development is near – [02/10/23]
Minister says Rempang island residents will get new houses from the govt – [01/10/23]
Govt sees common ground between investors, locals in Rempang – [27/09/23]
Ombudsman: Rempang residents feel pressured – [27/09/23]
“Ombudsman member Johanes Widijantoro stated that the government is applying pressure against the residents of Rempang, Batam, to agree with relocation in order to develop Rempang Eco-City.”
How a China deal put the homes of thousands of Indonesians at risk – [27/09/23]
“Residents of Rempang Island have until September 28 to leave their villages to make way for a sprawling economic zone.”
Govt changes Rempang relocation plan to Tanjung Banon – [26/09/23]
“Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia canceled plans to relocate the people of Rempang Island, Batam, to Galang Island. He said this was in line with the people’s aspirations.”
Eco-city development in Riau at risk as Indonesia pledges to prioritise community – [25/09/23]
Jokowi administration promises to proceed with Rempang Eco-City project – [25/09/23]
Komnas HAM finds indications of rights violations in Rempang – [24/09/23]
Rempang unrest: A wake-up call for a rights-based planned relocation framework – [23/09/23]
Tomy Winata: It’s Just Miscommunication – [23/09/23]
“It was not easy to convince Tomy Winata to agree to an interview. The name of this entrepreneur became a talking point again after the violence on Rempang Island, Riau Islands province, on Thursday, September 7. The police were trying to clear the 16,500-hectare island by moving its 7,500 inhabitants to Galang Island.”
Strategic, yet haphazard project – [22/09/23]
“Failure to clear the 2,000 hectares of land that China’s Xinyi Glass needs to develop the US$11.6 billion project on 17,000-ha Rempang Island near Singapore, comprising an eco-city and production facilities for solar photovoltaic panels and glass, could damage the government’s credibility in policymaking and law enforcement.”
Investors over islanders as Indonesia uses force to push development project – [21/09/23]
‘Ready to die’: Indonesia Eco-City row grows as eviction deadline looms – [21/09/23]
“Thousands of people from the island of Rempang have until Sep 28 to leave their homes and make way for a China-funded megaproject.”
Batam govt lures relocated Rempang residents with 4 promises – [20/09/23]
Govt to scale back Rempang relocations, for time being – [20/09/23]
Rempang Eco-City investors urged to Aasess development’s human rights impact – [19/09/23]
Why has Batam’s Rempang Eco-City national project become a controversy? – [18/09/23]
“Unhappiness among villagers in Rempang, close to Batam island, has led to riots in Batam City and threatens existing and future foreign investment. A small but diminishing window exists in which the local and central governments can improve their approach towards convincing residents of the need to relocate for a better future.”
Govt is ignoring Rempang’s strategic security role in Malacca Strait – [18/09/23]
Investment minister: Rempang residents will be given their rights – [18/09/23]
“Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Minister and the head of the National Land Agency Hadi Tjahjanto mentioned that the government has prepared for the relocation of Rempang residents in 500 hectares of land in Dapur 3, Galang Island.”
Gov’t aims to construct 2,500-hectare industrial area in Rempang despite protests – [18/09/23]
Potential environmental, social, and cultural damage due to Eco City Rempang development – [15/09/23]
Protests in Indonesia as thousands face eviction for Rempang ‘Eco-City’ – [15/09/23]
“Demonstrations have rocked Indonesia’s Riau Islands province as residents of Rempang Island protest against government plans to evict thousands of people to make way for a multibillion-dollar Chinese-owned glass factory and ‘Eco-City’.”
Construction of relocation areas for residents of Pulau Rempang needs a budget of IDR 1.6 trillion – [14/09/23]
Rempang riot: Between land acquisition and human rights – [14/09/23]
“A land dispute set off violent clashes last week between local people on Rempang Island near Batam in the province of Riau Islands and security forces who strived to facilitate the implementation of what the central government has classified as national strategic projects to develop huge glass and photovoltaic panel factories in the area.”
Thousands Protest in Front of BP Batam Office over Rempang Island Project – [11/09/23]
“Thousands of indigenous Malay people from the Riau Islands held a demonstration in front of the office of the Free Trade Zone and Free Port Authority or BP Batam on Monday, September 11, 2023.”
Rempang resident relocation work plan – [08/09/23]
“The development of Rempang Island in Batam City, Riau Islands Province (Kepri) as a new industrial area must deal with the residents who live on the island. To deal with the conditions, the Batam Business Agency (BP) has prepared temporary relocation to permanent housing for the Rempang Galang community. Observe the graphic info below.”
Batam urged to stop Rempang Eco-City project – [07/09/23]
Prepare for relocation in Galang with complete facilities – [29/08/23]
“Batam-Mayor of Batam-Head of BP Batam Muhammad Rudi continues to fight for the aspirations of the Rempang people to the central government. Relocation of residents has also been prepared in the Galang area with complete facilities.”
Rempang residents: We are ready to support the government, but don’t relocate – [23/08/23]
“Head of RT Belongkeng, Rempang Cate Village, Galang District, Deni Santoso said that actually the government does not need to relocate residents considering that the location of Rempang Island, which will be used as an investment area with a value of trillions of rupiah, is very large. Deni admitted that the community asked to be able to coexist with the development without having to move out of their homes.”
Prone to set aside the lives of coastal residents, Rempang residents refuse evictions in Rempang Eco City – [22/08/23]
“Residents on Rempang Island, Batam reject plans to eviction traditional villages for the Rempang Eco City megaproject. As coastal communities, they always feel left out in development policies in Batam.”
“PT MEG has been allocated a land area of 17,000 hectares covering the entire islands of Rempang and Subang Mas. Therefore, all residents of Rempang, numbering approximately 7,500 people, must be relocated.
The island of Rempang will be divided into seven different areas. These areas include industrial, agrotourism, residential, tourism, solar power generation, conservation, and cultural heritage areas.”
China’s Xinyi to Invest $11b in Quartz Sand Industry in Batam – [20/07/23]
“Chinese glass giant Xinyi Group seeks to make an $11 billion investment in the quartz sand downstream industry that lies in Rempang eco-city in Batam, Riau islands, according to Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.”
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