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The document examines the impact of geothermal energy expansion in Indonesia, specifically projects funded by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. It details environmental degradation, including water depletion and pollution, and social harms such as health crises, economic losses for farmers, and the criminalization of dissent. The author advocates for a 'Feminist Just Transition' framework to ensure community consent and equity in the energy transition.

The report examines the expansion of geothermal energy in Indonesia, highlighting the role of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank in funding projects that mitigate corporate risk while shifting social and environmental burdens to local communities. It documents specific instances of water depletion, pollution, and human rights abuses, arguing for a 'Feminist Just Transition' to ensure climate justice.

The report examines the impact of geothermal energy development in Indonesia, highlighting a contradiction between its role as a climate solution and the resulting socio-environmental risks. It details how funding from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) has accelerated projects that lead to water depletion, pollution, and the displacement of local livelihoods. The document documents specific cases of environmental degradation, such as mudflows and gas leaks, as well as the criminalization of dissent and the marginalization of women and Indigenous peoples. It concludes that the current financial model transfers risk to local communities and calls for a transition based on equity, justice, and the explicit consent of affected populations.

Civil society organizations have issued a legal notice (somasi) to President Prabowo, urging the immediate declaration of a national disaster status following devastating floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. As of December 8, 2025, the BNPB reported 974 deaths and 298 missing persons, with tens of thousands displaced. The coalition argues that the disasters were driven by excessive and illegal private sector exploitation, categorizing these actions as 'Ecocide Crimes'. They demand central government intervention for reconstruction and a comprehensive investigation into the structural causes and corporate beneficiaries behind the environmental destruction.

The project transformed Terminal Binjai from an inefficient, inaccessible transit hub into a safe, inclusive node for green mobility through a participatory process. Key interventions included a design competition involving university students and residents, 'transect walks' to identify pain points, and the implementation of low-cost 'tactical urbanism' upgrades. These changes resulted in improved lighting, accessible pathways, and weather-protected shelters, complemented by the addition of 30 new buses to the bus rapid transit (BRT) system. The project's methodology has been codified into a Digital Mapping Toolkit to support equitable urban transport planning in other cities globally.

The document details the legal actions taken by a coalition of civil society organizations, including Trend Asia, WALHI, and Greenpeace Indonesia, against the Indonesian government's National Electricity General Plan (RUKN) and the Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL). It argues that these plans ignore the escalating climate crisis—exemplified by Cyclone Senyar—and instead lock the country into fossil fuel dependency through the extension of coal-fired power plants (PLTU) and the use of biomass co-firing, which the authors claim drives deforestation. The coalition alleges that these policies violate multiple national laws and international commitments, such as the Paris Agreement, by failing to provide a clear coal phase-out roadmap and ignoring cheaper renewable energy alternatives.

The document highlights a surge in 'captive' coal power—plants operated off-grid by industrial users—which grew from 1.4 GW in 2013 to 10.8 GW in 2023. A vast majority of this capacity is dedicated to metal smelting, particularly nickel and aluminium, often justified by policies to increase the 'value add' of natural resources. The report warns that while Indonesia is a key supplier of minerals for the global energy transition, the reliance of these smelters on coal contradicts national climate targets and the goals of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). It recommends integrating the phase-out of captive coal power into national plans to avoid significant health costs and carbon emissions.

A coalition of international and Scottish organizations is calling on the Scottish Government to challenge the Batang Toru dam project in Indonesia. The project, developed by SDIC Power and its Edinburgh-based subsidiary Red Rock Power, threatens the Tapanuli orangutan, the world's rarest great ape. The letter highlights environmental risks, human rights abuses, and the contradiction between the project and Scotland's biodiversity and just transition commitments.

Mighty Earth clarifies that it is an advocacy NGO, not a financial institution, and is campaigning against the Batang Toru dam and Martabe gold mine expansion in North Sumatra. The organization argues that the Batang Toru dam is unnecessary due to sufficient local electricity supply and poses risks to the Tapanuli orangutan, the world's rarest great ape, and local communities. Mighty Earth also disputes claims that it is indifferent to the Martabe gold mine, stating it has spent years advocating against the mine's expansion into orangutan habitats. The document calls for a comprehensive conservation and restoration plan for the Batang Toru ecosystem to support Indonesia's broader success in reducing deforestation.

Mighty Earth argues that the Batang Toru hydropower plant and the potential expansion of the Martabe gold mine threaten the Tapanuli orangutan, the world's rarest great ape. The organization denies claims that it offered financing schemes or has a business interest in the region, asserting its role as an independent NGO advocating for a moratorium on projects impacting the species and the implementation of a comprehensive conservation and restoration plan.

The report identifies systemic irregularities in the Indonesian National Police's procurement of tear gas, including suspected price inflation of up to 30 times the market value, the selection of unqualified vendors, and horizontal collusion between companies. It notes a significant increase in police budgets under President Joko Widodo and a spike in tear gas equipment purchases in 2017, alongside a rising trend of tear gas use against mass protests from 2019 to 2022.

The report concludes that the Batang Toru hydroelectric project is an unnecessary endeavor that threatens the Tapanuli orangutan with extinction. It finds that North Sumatra already has a power surplus and that planned gas, geothermal, and other hydroelectric projects render Batang Toru's peak and baseload power redundant. Furthermore, the report argues that the project's claims regarding CO2 emission reductions and balance of payments relief are significantly inflated or incorrect, while highlighting the operational risks associated with the contractor, Sinohydro.

The document examines the gap between the high renewable energy potential in Nusa Tenggara Barat—specifically minihydro—and its actual installed capacity. It identifies critical bottlenecks including land acquisition, slow asset transfer, lack of coordination between on-grid and off-grid supplies, and inefficient permitting. The study argues for a 'PPPP' (Public-Private-People Partnership) approach, improved provincial capacity, and the strategic use of village funds to overcome these challenges.

The report identifies that while West Nusa Tenggara has significant renewable energy potential, particularly in mini-hydro, development is hindered by a combination of governance issues, technical gaps, and financing barriers. Key challenges include land acquisition volatility, slow asset transfer, and a lack of coordination between on-grid and off-grid electricity supply. The document argues for a 'Public–Private–People Partnership' (PPPP) approach, emphasizing the need for provincial-level leadership, capacity building for Independent Power Producers (IPPs), and the strategic use of village-level funds to scale up renewable energy infrastructure.

The paper argues that while supply chain traceability is a necessary first step, it is insufficient for achieving large-scale sustainability. Instead, it advocates for a 'landscape management approach'—managing agricultural production and ecosystem protection across connected areas of land rather than on a plantation-by-plantation basis. This strategy involves five key steps: defining landscape boundaries, partnering with government and business, allocating land to its highest value use, increasing productivity, and monitoring results. The document highlights a pilot project in Sei Mangkei, North Sumatra, and identifies significant opportunities to utilize degraded lands in North Sumatra and Central Kalimantan to reduce deforestation pressure.

The Sarulla Geothermal Power Plant (GPP) in Indonesia serves as a model for mobilizing private finance in the geothermal sector. By utilizing a combination of public guarantees, a long-term feed-in tariff, and concessional loans, the project attracted significant private debt and equity despite the high risks associated with field development. The study highlights that access to proven resources significantly reduced developer risk, while the government's Business Viability Guarantee Letter (BVGL) addressed bankability concerns regarding the state-owned offtaker, PLN. While the project's levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) is competitive with other geothermal projects, it remains more expensive than coal in Indonesia. The report concludes that to meet Indonesia's 7.6GW target by 2025, the government may need to take a larger role in early-stage exploration to further reduce risks for private investors.

The document examines Indonesia's energy subsidy regime, which in 2013 cost the government IDR 299.8 trillion (US$ 27.0 billion), representing 2.5% of GDP. It details the 2013 price increases for gasoline and diesel, the subsequent social compensation packages, and the challenges of LPG and electricity subsidy reforms. The report argues that these subsidies are regressive, encourage wasteful consumption, and crowd out critical infrastructure and social welfare spending. It provides recommendations for transitioning toward targeted assistance and renewable energy to ensure macroeconomic stability and sustainable growth.

The document examines how fuel subsidy reforms in Indonesia affect SMEs, noting that while these businesses are generally less energy-intensive than large enterprises, they are more vulnerable to price shocks. It highlights that indirect impacts—such as increased transportation costs and reduced purchasing power of low-income consumers—are often more severe than direct energy cost increases. The author recommends government support through improved credit access, infrastructure investment, and technical assistance for energy efficiency and alternative energy adoption.

The report documents a severe decline in Sumatra's natural forests, which shrank from 25.3 million hectares in 1985 to 12.8 million hectares by 2008/9. This deforestation, driven largely by oil palm and pulpwood plantations, has resulted in massive CO2 emissions from biomass loss and peatland degradation, particularly in Riau Province. The loss of habitat has led to significant population declines in the Sumatran elephant, orangutan, rhinoceros, and tiger, while 17 of 38 eco-floristic sectors are now categorized as threatened. The authors argue that protecting remaining peatland forests and restoring degraded areas are critical for meeting Indonesia's emission reduction targets.

The document outlines the role of small-scale Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in Indonesia's energy transition, highlighting their ability to reduce state budget pressure and increase renewable energy capacity. It identifies significant barriers to growth, including financing difficulties, complex permitting processes, and grid instability in remote areas, and recommends a policy package of technical and financial support to enable the sector to expand.