Indonesia is moving closer to selling electricity to the neighboring city state, but analysts still see challenges related to clearing and manufacturing.

The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) has said it will expand its questioning of rice millers in relation to allegations of anticompetitive practices after speaking to a top industry player.

Lawmakers have rejected state-owned electricity firm PLN’s request for Rp 10 trillion (US$651.4 million) in public funds for the improvement of the country’s energy infrastructure, pointing to a lack of clarity on the utility’s priorities and use of funds.

The investigation launched on Wednesday will determine if punitive tariffs are warranted to protect EU producers from what European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described as a "flood" of cheaper Chinese EV imports.

Environmental groups have submitted a formal complaint to the World Bank for providing financial support for two coal-fired power plants in Indonesia, violating a pledge to stop backing fossil fuels.

Chinese staff from China Railway Group will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway in its early years, PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China (KCIC), the Sino-Indonesian consortium responsible for the project, has announced.

Indonesia users spent more money on TikTok than anywhere else in Southeast Asia over the past year, as the app's e-commerce arm rapidly grew to gain a substantial regional market share and millions of sellers since its 2021 launch.

Brussels will investigate Chinese state subsidies for electric cars, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday, vowing to defend Europe's industry against "artificially low prices".

The government has proposed state capital injections (PMN) of Rp 24.6 trillion (US$1.59 billion) to continue work on toll road projects handled by debt-laden state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

Rare earths are considered to be lucrative and of strategic value because they are used in the manufacturing of military equipment, lasers, smartphones and magnets found in electric vehicles and wind turbines.

Rare earths are a group of 17 elements used in products from lasers and military equipment to magnets found in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and consumer electronics, such as smartphones.

Greenpeace praises the utility firm for its ambition but expresses doubt over the implementation, while experts urge the government to disincentivize the coal industry and pour subsidies into renewable energy projects.

The Agricultural Quarantine Agency says the government would not impose an immediate ban should lumpy skin disease (LSD) be detected again in animals shipped into the country.

Indonesia should foster a friendly environment for mining firms so that nickel reserves can be tapped and the country can move away from importing the commodity, according to industry observers.

Japan is cautious toward investing in the technology sector in relation to the presence of Chinese firms amid the United States policy to restrict China access to advanced chips and related technologies.

Experts have cast doubts on the prospects of public transportation in the new capital of Nusantara, pointing out that its development may still hinge on accommodating private vehicles, much like in Jakarta.

Experts say such a move would be a major step back in the country's journey toward lower carbon emissions.

The import tariff exclusions include industrial components such as pumps and electric motors, some car parts and chemicals, bicycles and vacuum cleaners.

PLN plans to add 32 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity and invest in grids that would be able to connect to more renewable power sources, its chief executive said on Wednesday.

Though ASEAN member states have vowed better collaboration on issues from food security to geopolitical risks, experts say technical difficulties and a lack of political will often threw a wrench into such efforts.

Pertamina CEO Nicke Widyawati also proposed widening the scope of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) to include decarbonization initiatives on the way to cleaner power supply.

The government has allayed concerns about domestic food security amid declining crops in Asia and commodity export restrictions imposed by several countries.

The Transportation Ministry stated that it has not yet had a specific date for the high-speed railway's inauguration, but the earliest possible date is Oct. 1.  

State-owned electricity utility PLN should focus on boosting renewable energy projects in its revised electricity procurement plan (RUPTL) to seize funding opportunities from the landmark Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) deal.

Leaders of ASEAN countries have signed documents in which they promise to work together closely on food security and the digital economy for years to come.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Turkey's Tayyip Erdogan on Monday that Russia was open to discussions about the Black Sea grain deal, an agreement that helped get Ukraine's grain to market and thus ease a global food crisis.

Pertamina is examining the possibility of mixing more of its gasoline products with ethanol, in a bid to produce fuel with lower emissions, but experts warn the benefits are unlikely to outweigh the risks and challenges.

The five-year visa requires individual investors to set up a company worth $2.5 million, while for the 10 years visa, a $5 million investment is required.

The operator of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway (HSR) said it has yet to acquire an operating permit from the government despite President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo's intention of inaugurating the flagship project in less than a week.

Indonesia is keeping open the possibility of exporting opium-like plant Mitragyna speciose to the United States amid ongoing legal debate as to whether the plant should be classed as an illegal narcotic.