Info Terbaru - Lembaga Penelitian dan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat

Indonesia, known as a maritime nation with the second-longest coastline in the world, still relies heavily on salt imports. To address this issue, the Faculty of Earth Sciences and Technology (FITB) at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) launched the "Salt House" innovation project in Kiraman Village, South Alor District, Alor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). This initiative aims to increase local salt production while also providing freshwater for the local community.

Initiative and Program Objectives

Dr. Susanna Nurdjaman, S.Si., M.T., a Lecturer in Oceanography at ITB and head of the team, explained that the Salt House innovation utilizes solar energy to produce both salt and freshwater. “We harness solar heat to accelerate the evaporation of seawater, resulting in salt crystals and purified water through a condensation system,” she stated.

This program was initiated in response to a proposal from Kiraman Village, which faced challenges in producing salt traditionally due to limited land and technology. ITB’s team designed a 5x6-meter Salt House and a solar-powered seawater pump to support the production process. While three Salt Houses were initially planned, only one has been completed due to a shortage of materials, such as UV plastic. “Additional materials are on the way to complete the remaining units,” Dr. Susanna confirmed during a phone call on August 29, 2024.

Implementation of Technology

The program took place between July and November 2024, with the main fieldwork conducted from August 12-19, 2024. Over the course of a week, ITB's team worked closely with the people of Kiraman Village to build the Salt House. The process involved evaporating seawater that had been pre-settled overnight in wooden collection tables lined with zinc and clear plastic. The vapor was channeled through PVC pipes to a transparent mica roof, where it condensed into pure, drinkable water. Meanwhile, the residual salt left on the evaporation table was ready for harvest.

“This method is far more efficient than traditional techniques, which can take more than two weeks,” Dr. Susanna explained. During a trial run in Subang, the team successfully produced salt crystals in just four days. In Kiraman Village, salt harvesting has yet to occur as the team focused on completing the solar-powered seawater pump installation. However, according to the village head, this method has the potential to produce up to **200 kilograms of salt per production cycle**.

Team and Community Involvement

The project involved a multidisciplinary team from ITB. In addition to being led by Dr. Susanna Nurdjaman, the team included Ivonne M. Radjawane, Ph.D., technical staff member Siti Tamalia Zuraydah, as well as postgraduate and undergraduate students in Oceanography, including Achmad Nagi, M. Apdillah, Bintang, Ahdan, and Joshua. Community members, including local leaders and elementary school students, also participated.

The project’s highlight was on August 17, 2024, coinciding with Indonesia’s Independence Day flag-raising ceremony held on a cliff near the salt pond. During this event, the solar-powered seawater pump and the Salt House were officially launched, marking a new chapter for the Kiraman community.

Benefits and Future Aspirations

Although the Salt House relies solely on solar energy, its design and materials have been optimized to maximize evaporation efficiency. As part of the 2024 Top-Down Community Service Program, this initiative aims to address challenges in the 3T (Disadvantaged, Frontier, Outermost) regions, particularly in Alor Regency. “We hope this project can be expanded to other coastal areas, utilizing solar potential and enhancing the welfare of local communities,” Dr. Susanna concluded.

By successfully implementing this program, FITB ITB demonstrates its commitment to empowering communities through appropriate technological innovations. This project is expected to serve as a model for replication in other coastal regions across Indonesia.

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