Indonesia has asked Norway to postpone the disbursement of millions of dollars under a climate partnership deal because Jakarta has not completed necessary preparatory steps stipulated in the deal, a minister said.

It is not clear when the decision was made but the first disbursement of US$30 million of Norway’s pledged $1 billion was expected to take place this year.“President [Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono] suggests that we not take the money now, and wait for preparations to be improved,” Environment Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta told reporters at a meeting on biodiversity on Wednesday.The statement comes as Indonesian officials, led by Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, arrived home after a study tour to Brazil to learn about implementation procedures there to pave the way for the implementation of a REDD plus agreement signed by Brazil and Norway that covers areas in the Amazon rainfore...