Indonesia Roundup: Austria carbon deal, Riau flu outbreak, Mount Semeru erupts

Former ASDP CEO sentenced to 4.5 years for corruption

The Central Jakarta District Court has sentenced former ASDP Indonesia Ferry CEO Ira Puspadewi to 4.5 years in prison and a Rp500 million fine for corruption linked to the 2019 - 2022 acquisition of PT Jembatan Nusantara (JN). The court found Ira guilty of enriching PT JN owner Adjie by Rp1.25 trillion (approx. US$78.1 million) through an irregular business cooperation scheme. Chief Judge Sunoto read out the verdict on Thursday, noting it was lighter than the 8.5-year sentence sought by prosecutors from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). The case is one of Indonesia’s most high-profile corporate graft scandals this year, Kompas reports. ASDP Indonesia Ferry is a state-owned Indonesian company that operates an integrated ferry and port service to connect the archipelago, along with developing waterfront tourism.

500,000 hectares for cattle farms to combat milk shortage

President Prabowo Subianto has ordered the creation of 500,000 hectares of cattle farms to address a milk shortage affecting the government’s Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program. Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency Nanik S. Deyang said 300,000 hectares will be developed outside Java and 200,000 within. “The President has given instructions. A cattle farm will soon be established to meet the needs of the MBG and the Indonesian people,” she said. The farms are expected to produce 3 million litres of milk per day, with Agrinas and the Agriculture Ministry spearheading the effort. Plans also include expanding soy milk production to supplement the dairy supply.

Indonesia and Austria to establish carbon trade agreement

Indonesia is preparing to sign a carbon trade agreement with Austria, Minister of Environment and BPLH Head Hanif Faisol Nurofiq announced after meeting Austrian Minister Norbert Totschnig in Vienna. The partnership will include a mutual recognition agreement (MRA) to support both countries’ carbon market frameworks. “We believe that a well-functioning carbon market will contribute to achieving Indonesia’s climate targets while encouraging green investment,” Hanif said. Indonesia’s carbon trade transactions reached Rp7 trillion (approx. US$437.5 million) at COP30 in Brazil, with a potential of 14.5 million tons of CO₂ in future trading.

Riau flu outbreak among Talang Mamak tribe

Health authorities say an Influenza A outbreak that killed five children and infected more than 200 members of the Talang Mamak Indigenous community in Indragiri Hulu, Riau, is now under control. Acting Health Agency head Heri Permana confirmed that no new cases have been reported since late October. “Hopefully there will be no additional patients so we can focus on recovery efforts,” said Sandra, head of the local health agency. A report by Jakarta Post indicated that the outbreak, which mostly affected children and infants, had spread rapidly through the remote hamlet before medical teams intervened with treatment and supplies.

Over 1,000 evacuated after Mount Semeru eruption

More than 1,000 residents have been evacuated following a series of eruptions at Mount Semeru, East Java’s tallest volcano, which spewed ash clouds up to 2 kilometres high and sent lava flows 13 kilometres down its slopes. Authorities reported several injuries and deployed emergency response teams to Lumajang and Malang regencies to assist displaced residents. The 3,676-meter volcano, one of Indonesia’s most active, has been under heightened monitoring since its previous major eruption in 2021.