China’s $4.4 Billion Bet on Indonesia’s New Capital: A Strategic Utility Tunnel for Power and Sensitive Fiber Optics

The Indonesian government has given the green light to PT China Harbour Indonesia (CHI) to develop a massive multi-utility tunnel (MUT) and road infrastructure project, including fiber optics, worth approximately $4.4 billion.
The Indonesian government has given the green light to China Harbour Indonesia to develop a massive multi-utility tunnel and road infrastructure project, including sensitive fiber optics, worth $4.4 billion. (Photo: Nusantara Capital Authority OIKN)

In a move that underscores Beijing’s growing role in Indonesia’s ambitious new capital, Nusantara IKN, the Indonesian government has given China Harbour Indonesia the green light to develop a massive multi-utility tunnel (MUT) and road infrastructure project, including fiber optics, worth approximately $4.4 billion.

The MUT project is set to become one of IKN’s most critical infrastructure developments. The 138.6-kilometer smart tunnel will integrate power cables, fiber optics, and pipelines and be the backbone of the capital’s utility networks.

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