A New Chapter at S&T and Indonesia’s 2026 Outlook

Eco-lawgic is Denia's (our co-founders) personal newsletter, initially published on LinkedIn and subsequently shared here as part of Cleanomic's archieve.

Happy Monday everyone. Many of us are likely back at our desks at full speed, entering the second week of 2026—against a backdrop of increasingly concerning global headlines. In Jakarta, the rainy season continues: dark mornings, steady rain, and a certain heaviness in the air. Yet even amid this uncertainty, we are entering the year with a sense of purpose and quiet optimism.

New Space, New Identity, Same Heart

This year marks an important transition for us at Soemadipradja & Taher. A new office space, a new logo, and a new website—while the same dedicated team remains firmly at the core of everything we do.

After more than 30 years at Wisma GKBI, our lease came due end of last year, and we knew it was time to align our physical space with our future ambitions. After careful consideration, we chose Jakarta Mori Tower—an inspiring new development that blends thoughtful Japanese aesthetics with modern technology and sustainability-minded design.

Over the past year, much of our energy has gone into refining the foundations: reworking our color palette, reimagining our office layout, decluttering (literally and figuratively), and sharpening our marketing and engagement plans for 2026. Seeing these efforts finally come together has been deeply rewarding

While we are still finalising a few details before officially moving in, our refreshed website is already live. Credit goes to our marketing team for a beautifully executed update—and we warmly invite you to take a look.

Bills to Watch in 2026

Towards the end of last year, the House of Representatives issued the Program Legislasi Nasional (Prolegnas)—the list of priority bills targeted for deliberation and finalisation in 2026. Several of these are particularly relevant to investment, sustainability, and governance, and are worth close attention:

• Amendment to Law No. 41 of 1999 on Forestry Media reports indicate that the proposed amendment seeks to recalibrate Indonesia’s forest governance framework by strengthening legal certainty and enforcing stricter sanctions against illegal logging activities. The bill is also expected to align more closely with the proposed Indigenous Peoples Bill, reinforcing community participation and positioning local and indigenous communities as the frontline stewards of forest protection. Overall, the amendment aims to create a more robust and adaptive legal framework for forest conservation while supporting sustainable development objectives.

• New and Renewable Energy Bill (RUU EBET) Long anticipated, this bill is intended to establish a clearer and more comprehensive legal framework for the development of new and renewable energy. Key areas covered include business licensing, local content requirements, energy storage and utilisation, pricing and tariff mechanisms, and institutional arrangements. Collectively, these provisions are designed to accelerate Indonesia’s energy transition, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and attract long-term investment into clean and resilient energy infrastructure.

• One Data Indonesia Bill (RUU Satu Data Indonesia) This bill seeks to formalise and strengthen the national “One Data” policy by improving data governance, standardisation, and inter-agency coordination. The objective is to ensure more accurate, interoperable, and reliable public data—critical for policymaking, investment planning, and digital governance.

• Climate Change Management Bill (RUU Pengelolaan Perubahan Iklim) This proposed law aims to consolidate Indonesia’s climate commitments into a comprehensive framework, covering mitigation, adaptation, carbon management, and inter-sectoral coordination. It is expected to provide greater legal certainty for climate-related policies and climate finance mechanisms.

We are monitoring these developments closely and will continue to share updates as the legislative process unfolds.

Danantara: Moving at Full Speed

As expected, Danantara continues to position itself as a key economic engine. This year begins with the rollout of approximately Rp100 trillion (around US$6 billion) in downstreaming projects, starting with six initiatives spanning smelter-grade alumina, alumina refineries, bio-avtur processing, and bioethanol development. The President has indicated a target of 18 downstreaming projects to be realised in stages throughout 2026.

Among the national strategic projects, the waste-to-energy program stands out. Scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2026, it forms part of a broader pipeline of projects that have passed pre-feasibility studies, with a combined investment value of approximately Rp600 trillion (US$35.8 billion). The government plans to roll out waste-to-energy facilities across 34 cities and regencies currently facing severe waste challenges—an initiative that sits at the intersection of environmental urgency and infrastructure development.

IPBA Annual Conference – New Delhi

For those heading to the IPBA Annual Conference in New Delhi, let’s connect! 

I’ll be joining a panel to discuss developments in South and Southeast Asia. With the region projected to grow at over 5%, there is much to discuss regarding how we can outperform more developed markets through collaboration.

If You’re in Jakarta This Week…

If you happen to be in Jakarta this week, we warmly invite you to join our upcoming seminar in collaboration with Hylands Law Firm on Wednesday, 14 January 2026. The session will cover Indonesia’s current investment landscape, waste-to-energy projects, and key considerations for Chinese companies expanding into Indonesia. 

Please click here to RSVP.

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With our new, expanded conference rooms at Mori Tower, we look forward to hosting many more of these conversations throughout the year. If you have a topic you’d like us to cover or want to collaborate on a talkshow, please do not hesitate to reach out.

We look forward to welcoming you to our new space very soon.