DEMINETEC in Jakarta

DEMINETEC, a French company headquartered in La Seyne-sur-Mer (Var), delivers civilian demining (pyrotechnic clearance) and unexploded ordnance (UXO) risk management services to public and private clients in Jakarta, Indonesia. We cover the full chain from historical pyrotechnic desk study (EHT) to ordnance neutralisation and disposal, in line with French Decree 2005-1325 and international best practice.

• French licensed company, ISO 9001 and MASE certified, compliant with French Decree 2005-1325.
• Teams of former French Navy and Army EOD operators (NEDEX / EOD qualifications).
• Over 30 years of accumulated experience in France and on international projects.
• Onshore and underwater intervention capacity through the DEMINETEC group (SEMTEC, GEODE, DEMINETEC ECG).
• Quick response: quote within 48 hours, rapid mobilisation in France and abroad.

War history and explosive contamination in Jakarta

The Battle of Java, also called the Invasion of Java or Operation J, took place from 28 February to 12 March 1942 in Java, Dutch East Indies. Japan invaded against Allied personnel from the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Australia and United States. Allied commanders signed a formal surrender at Japanese headquarters in Bandung on 12 March. Allied strength as 34,250 personnel and Japanese strength as 40,000 troops. Batavia, identified in the geographic notes as present-day Jakarta, was among the Allied positions affected by the campaign. The Japanese Sixteenth Army landed 23,500 men in western Java near Merak, in the Bay of Bantam and near Eretan Wetan. They opposed 27,000 KNIL and Allied troops. The landings at Eretan Wetan threatened Bandoeng, the KNIL logistic centre containing warehouses and workshops.

Japanese and Allied operations around western Java included the advance from Merak toward Buitenzorg and the area between Batavia and Bandung. Japanese forces captured Kalidjati air base on 1 March, bombed Andir airfield on 3 March and captured Purwakarta on 4 March. Allied forces in Batavia and Buitenzorg withdrew toward Bandung, while Japanese detachments reached Cimahi and Cibarusa by 9 March. Allied naval activity also affected Java: ships were ordered to evacuate Tjilatjap, damaged Dutch submarines were directed toward Colombo, and remaining Dutch ships were scuttled from 2 March. The Morokrembangan Naval Air Base and Perak Airfield were destroyed. These battles, bombardments, demolitions and scuttling operations may have left explosive contamination requiring historical consideration in Jakarta and elsewhere in Java.

Areas and structures concerned

• Batavia, now Jakarta
• Buitenzorg, now Bogor
• Bandoeng logistic centre, with warehouses and workshops
• Kalidjati air base
• Andir airfield
• Morokrembangan Naval Air Base
• Perak Airfield

Expected ordnance and implications for survey

The campaign explicitly involved bombs, artillery and armoured vehicles. Japanese forces bombed Andir airfield. The Japanese order of battle lists Type 97 medium tanks, Type 95 light tanks, M3 light tanks and Type 97 tankettes, together with mountain artillery battalions, field artillery battalions and anti-tank units. Allied formations possessed anti-aircraft guns, anti-tank rifles, mortars, grenades and light armoured cars. These varied items indicate that historical desk studies and field surveys would need to consider bombed airfields, artillery positions, vehicle routes, defensive areas and demolished military facilities during any explosive ordnance assessment or clearance operation.

FAQ: explosive risk in Jakarta

Reference : Wikipédia — Battle of Java (1942)

DEMINETEC operates in Jakarta and across Indonesia from our French head office (285 avenue Marcel Paul, 83500 La Seyne-sur-Mer, France). We mobilise teams and technical assets to fit each mission: documentary studies, short field surveys, or long-duration clearance operations.