Batam (ANTARA) – Indonesia is backing its first wind energy conversion project in Batam as part of efforts to expand renewable energy manufacturing and strengthen the country’s role in the global clean energy supply chain.National Development Planning Minister Rachmat Pambudy said the project is expected to generate economic and investment benefits for Batam and the broader Indonesian economy.“We hope this project delivers broad benefits, both economically and from an investment perspective, not only for Batam but nationally,” Pambudy said in a statement on Thursday.The project will be developed by PT McDermott Indonesia, which recently completed two new facilities — the Cakrawala and Nusantara buildings — supporting the Tennet 2GW High Voltage Direct Current project.The wind energy conversion initiative forms part of broader efforts to build a competitive and sustainable domestic energy industry.Riau Islands Governor Ansar Ahmad said the project would strengthen Batam’s position as a fabrication hub for critical offshore wind farm components and expand its role in renewable energy supply chains.“Since beginning operations in the 1970s, McDermott has grown from an eight-hectare site into a 110-hectare offshore fabrication complex,” Ahmad said.He added that the company has served as a major player in Southeast Asia’s maritime manufacturing industry for more than five decades.Ahmad said the newly inaugurated facilities include the climate-controlled Cakrawala block assembly building and the Nusantara blasting and painting facility, representing investments worth US$240 million.The project is expected to employ about 7,000 local workers during construction while relying entirely on local young engineers for structural design work.The governor said the investment could support the Riau Islands economy, which expanded 7.04 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026.The project is also expected to contribute toward the province’s 2025 investment target of Rp64.67 trillion, equivalent to about US$4.0 billion.