Welcome to the Indonesia morning news roundup by AEC News Today, your one stop for Indonesia news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities.

Showdown in Indonesia Brings World’s Biggest Gold Mine to Standstill

The American mining company Freeport-McMoRan has brought the world’s biggest gold mine, in the Indonesian province of West Papua, to a standstill. The corporation is butting heads with the Indonesian government over protectionist mining regulations. And now that Freeport has started to dismiss tens of thousands of workers, the local economy is poised to take a huge hit. In Mimika Regency, the West Papua province containing the Grasberg gold mine, 91 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is attributed to Freeport.

— Voice of America

Four new geothermal plants to add 215 MW capacity in Indonesia this year

Indonesia expect four additional geothermal power plants to start operation this year, adding 215 MW of power generation capacity at Sarulla, Sorik Marapi, Karaha Bodas and Ulubelu.

— Think Geo Energy

Honda Builds 1 Millionth Vehicle in Indonesia

Honda builds its 1 millionth vehicle in Indonesia 14 years after launching production in the Southeast Asian country.

— Ward’s Auto

Russia remains tight-lipped on Indonesia’s weapons deal

Almost one year since President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s state visit to Russia, Moscow is still keeping Indonesia’s planned weapons purchase under wraps.

— Jakarta Post

Rohingya Crisis: Indonesia foils bomb attack on Myanmar embassy

Indonesian police arrested a suspected Islamist militant for planning an attack on government buildings and the Myanmar embassy in Jakarta next month. The police have also seized a large quantity of bomb making material that he intended to use for the attack.

— International Business Times

Soekarno-Hatta Airport Train to Be Operational in July

The 36.3-kilometer railway line connecting Manggarai Station in South Jakarta with Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, will be operational in July, offering travelers a cheaper and faster alternative, state-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura II announced in a statement on Sunday (26/02).

— Jakarta Globe

Indonesia police shoot dead suspected militant during attack

Indonesian police said they shot and killed a suspected militant in the West Java capital of Bandung on Monday after his bomb exploded in a vacant lot and he fled into a municipal building and set it alight.

— Washington Post

Zalora CEO refutes reports that company is selling in Indonesia

On Friday, Asia’s tech media — including e27 — cited a TechCrunch report that said Zalora was in acquisition talks with Indonesian retail giant MAP Group, following Zalora Philippines’ recent investment from Ayala Group.

— E27

Indonesia plans to export diesel fuel, avtur

State-owned energy giant Pertamina is looking forward to tapping into the Philippine market with its diesel fuel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF), or avtur, that will be produced at the Bontang grass roots refinery (GRR) project in East Kalimantan, which is expected to begin operations in 2023.

— Jakarta Post

Indonesia’s Pertamina Seeks To Explore Two Oil Fields In Iran

Pertamina will submit proposals to Iran to explore two oil fields in the country that Indonesia’s state-held energy company has estimated at containing 1.5 billion barrels of oil reserves.

— OilPrice.com

UangTeman expands service to Eastern Indonesia

INDONESIAN financial technology company PT Digital Alpha Indonesia (UangTeman), which provides a direct online lending platform recently expanded its services to Bali and Makassar, aiming to serve more people in the eastern part of the country.

— Digital News Asia

Indonesia – Visit by Jean-Marc Ayrault (February 27-28, 2017)

Jean-Marc Ayrault is visiting Indonesia from February 27 to 28, in preparation for President Hollande’s upcoming visit.

— France Diplomatie (press release)

Agriculture Minister to Sack Officials Involved in Meat Import Cartels

Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said on Friday (24/02) he would sack ministry officials who get themselves involved with meat import cartels.

— Jakarta Globe

Police to Deploy 10,000 Personnel to Secure Saudi King’s Visit

National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Syafruddin said nearly 10,000 officers will be deployed to secure the visit by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud to Indonesia this week.

— Jakarta Globe

Feature photo: John Le Fevre

The Indonesia morning news roundup is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.