Jakarta, Aug. 26 -- President Prabowo Subianto has ordered Indonesia's research agency BRIN to develop domestic desalination technology to turn seawater into drinking water, particularly for remote areas facing water shortages after disasters.

At a disaster-impact coordination meeting in Nagekeo District, East Nusa Tenggara Province, on Wednesday, Prabowo ordered the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and universities to develop desalination technology.

He issued the order after Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo reported clean-water shortages on Palue Island, a remote area affected by an earthquake in neighboring Sikka District.

"I ask BRIN, perhaps together with the Defense University, the military, and engineering facul...