Indonesian President Joko Widodo spent his first night in the new presidential palace in the new capital Nusantara. It took some getting used to: The president told local reporters that he hadn’t slept well, although he was happy that the internet, water and electricity were working.

The lack of these facilities had delayed the move to the palace earlier. The president said he did not want to hinder the thousands of workers here with his visit. “We are still working hard,” he said. “I hope we do not stand in their way.”

The building is intended to be the centerpiece of the new city, and is designed to be in the shape of the national mythical bird, Garuida. 4,650 steel panels are used for the bird’s wings alone.

The president said he could not yet show journalists in much of the palace because many construction workers were still working in and around the building. He did not say how long he would remain in the palace.

The president told reporters that it would take some time before construction was completed:

Indonesia began building the city of Nusantara two years ago in the middle of the jungle on the island of Borneo. The current capital, Jakarta, about 1,200 kilometers away on the island of Java, is sinking ever lower below sea level and suffers from traffic problems and polluted air. That’s why Indonesia decided to build a new capital.

Nusantara must become an example of the future and sustainability. This is what it should be. The city will be climate neutral and residents should be able to travel by electric public transport. According to Indonesia, the nature in which the city is built will be preserved as much as possible, and the city itself will run mainly on green energy. It is not clear whether this is possible, as the region contains the largest coal reserves in the world.

The plan is for Jakarta to remain Indonesia’s commercial hub and for the new capital to become essentially the country’s administrative heart. The city is set to open this year, but it’s not expected to be completed until 2045.

The new city will cost tens of billions of euros to build, of which only 20% will be paid by the Indonesian government itself. The remaining 80% must be paid by private investors and partnerships with the business community.

This will not go as the government had hoped. Construction has already been delayed by heavy rains that caused flooding, a lack of investors and a shortage of building materials. There are also many concerns about corruption, which is a major problem for the country.

The president will not live in the new palace for long. Newly elected President Prabowo Subianto will take office at the end of this year, succeeding Joko Widodo. Prabowo has vowed to continue with plans to build the new city.

On August 17, when Indonesia celebrates Independence Day, Nusantara City is officially opened.