GreenergyDaily

Jan. 21, 2026

A China-backed hydropower plant and a gold mining unit run by Indonesian conglomerate Astra International were among the 28 firms that had their permits revoked by the Jakarta government on Tuesday, accused of environmental breaches that worsened last year's floods.

The cyclone-induced floods and landslides on the island of Sumatra in late November killed 1,200 people, destroyed homes and displaced over a million residents. Environmental experts said the devastation was worsened by rampant deforestation to make way for mines and plantations.

President Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday revoked the permits of 28 firms involved in forestry, oil palm and cocoa as well as power generation and mining. They included PT North Sumatra Hydro Energy (NHSE), PT Agincourt Resources and PT Toba Pulp Lestari.

NHSE, responsible for the Batangtoru hydropower plant, is controlled by China's SDIC Power Holdings Co. Ltd, according to Indonesia's state utility firm.

The project, currently under construction by PowerChina, has long been on the radar of environmental activists, with many calling for it to be stopped because of the ecological destruction it has wrought on the biodiverse island.

Prior to the floods, the power project, which will have a total installed capacity of 510 megawatts, was expected to be fully operational by the end of this year.

On Monday, Huang He, China's consulate general in North Sumatra, told local media that the construction of the Batangtoru plant was compliant with Indonesian laws, adding that he hoped the company's activities could be resumed.