Indonesians furious as Batam data centres drain taps: ‘we cannot cook without water’
Reported by 2 outlets in the past day, including South China Morning Post, The Japan Times.
1What happened
Cooking and bathing became difficult when taps ran dry in Batam, an Indonesian island where residents are protesting against data centres springing up to power the global artificial intelligence boom. South China Morning Post ↗
2Compared to what
America’s great building booms, compared
At an estimated 3.6% of the economy a year, the AI build-out is larger than the railroad boom and more than three times the highway program. AI spending is an estimate. Source: Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, Sept. 23, 2026
3Also reported
Frustration is bubbling over in Indonesia and Malaysia — especially in regions bordering Singapore that are seen as a prime location for new tech facilities. The Japan Times ↗
Sources
- Indonesians furious as Batam data centres drain taps: ‘we cannot cook without water’ ↗South China Morning Post
- Can’t cook or shower: Indonesians take aim at data centers ↗The Japan Times
- From delight to despair: Indonesians furious as data centre boom drains taps ↗South China Morning Post