Publications
Evidence with a purpose.
Reports, policy briefs, press releases, books, and public commentary in one searchable archive.
High Potential, Low Prosperity: Structural and Regulatory Gaps in Rural Renewable Energy Transition
Indonesia’s renewable energy transition is leaving rural communities behind. A new study by CELIOS finds that despite Indonesia’s enormous renewable energy potential, structural inequality, weak regulation, and extractive economic dependence continue to hinder equitable energy access in villages. The report documents several alarming trends between 2021–2024. Household solar adoption declined by 26.3%, biogas utilization dropped by 19.8%, and community-scale micro-hydro development fell by 10.1%
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INDONESIA’S NICKEL: What Is Seen and What Remains Buried
Indonesia sits at the center of one of the most consequential resource stories of our time. As the world's largest nickel producer, it holds a pivotal position in the supply chains feeding the electric vehicle boom — a position its government has worked deliberately to strengthen through downstream processing mandates and a rapid buildout of smelting infrastructure. Nickel exports have climbed sharply over the past five years, and on paper, the country looks like a rare winner in the global clean energy transition.
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Indonesia Economic Inequality 2026
The report Indonesia Economic Inequality 2026: Republic of Oligarchy shows a clear reality: inequality in Indonesia is getting worse and harder to justify. The wealth of the 50 richest people is equal to that of 55 million Indonesians. At the same time, workers’ wages barely increase while top wealth keeps growing rapidly. This report explains why. It’s not just the market—it’s how the economic and political system works. Wealth is concentrated in extractive sectors like mining and energy, and
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Leveraging the London Metal Exchange: Turning Indonesia’s Minerals into Premium Low Carbon Assets
As Indonesia solidifies its position as the epicenter of the global critical minerals landscape, new challenges have emerged in ensuring that our mineral wealth translates into fair, resilient, and sustainable economic value. While downstreaming policies have successfully increased domestic refining capacity, the market volatility experienced throughout 2025 and early 2026—marked by production halts in several RKEF lines—underscores the urgent need for a more robust global pricing and diversific
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Why Food Estates Are Not the Answer for Food and Energy Security
A new CELIOS report reveals that the Merauke food estate and bioethanol program could cost more than US$11 billion, while posing major risks to forests, local communities, and public governance. The study argues that Indonesia should prioritize cleaner, more cost-effective pathways to strengthen long-term food and energy resilience. CELIOS-Food Estate Not The Answer April 2026 Download
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Village Energy Transition Readiness Index 2026
CELIOS, in collaboration with Greenpeace, has released the 2026 Village Energy Transition Readiness Index report, which shows that the readiness of villages in driving the clean energy transition in Indonesia continues to face structural challenges and significant regional disparities. This study measures the readiness of villages and urban wards ( kelurahan ) for the energy transition through three main dimensions: clean energy initiatives, economic resilience, and village governance capacity
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AMICUS CURIAE CELIOS – ADMINISTRATIVE COURT OF KUPANG
The Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS) has submitted an Amicus Curiae in Case Number 26/G/TF/PTUN.KPG on behalf of Agustinus Tuju, an Indigenous community leader from Poco Leok, in a case concerning opposition to the geothermal development project against the Regent of Manggarai at the Administrative Court of Kupang. This legal opinion is presented to strengthen the protection of constitutional rights, particularly the freedom of peaceful expression and the rights of Indigenous communities
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The New Development Bank and the Road to Better Safeguards for Communities and a Just Transition
The New Development Bank (NDB) plays an increasingly strategic role in financing infrastructure and climate-related projects across developing countries, positioning itself as a key actor in advancing sustainable development and a just energy transition. As NDB’s portfolio expands, this report underscores the growing importance of strong social and environmental safeguard frameworks to protect affected communities and ecosystems. Drawing on comparative policy analysis and institutional assessmen
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Annual China-Indonesia Survey: Insights into Indonesian Perception of China 2025
The China–Indonesia Survey 2025, conducted by CELIOS, provides a comprehensive overview of Indonesian public perceptions toward China amid growing bilateral engagement. The survey examines key areas including the economy, politics, technology, education, security, and the energy transition, as well as public views on President Prabowo’s closeness to China and its implications for diplomacy, national sovereignty, and global positioning. Key findings show a broadly positive outlook, with 66% of re
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(Not) Nutritious, (Not) Free Meals
When (Not) Nutritious, (Not) Free Meals The Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG) is touted as a flagship program of the Prabowo-Gibran administration. The government, through Bappenas, identifies 4 main objectives for MBG. These include meeting the nutritional needs of vulnerable groups. The program is also intended to improve the quality of education. MBG is expected to boost the local economy. The program is also claimed to create jobs. President Prabowo Subianto has repeatedly said that MBG is the provis
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Urgently Calling for a New Model of Business, Human Rights, and Environmental Assessment
Sustainability instruments in Indonesia—such as PROPER, PRISMA, Norma 100, TKBI, and LKPM—remain fragmented and voluntary, lack field verification, and do not disclose results to the public. As a result, companies can engage in partial compliance without addressing real human rights and environmental harms on the ground. The CELIOS & PUSHAM UII study reveals that: 4 out of 5 national instruments are voluntary and unverified. Major conflicts in the LQ45 energy sector include environmental polluti
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2025 Indonesia-MENA Energy Transition Cooperation: Progress, Prospects, and Recommendations
Cooperation between Indonesia and countries in the Middle East–North Africa (MENA) region gained renewed strategic significance in 2025, as both regions confronted shared challenges related to energy security, economic diversification, and climate change. With global energy markets undergoing rapid transformation driven by stronger commitments to decarbonisation and the accelerated adoption of clean energy technologies, Indonesia and its MENA partners increasingly recognise the urgency of reposi
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