Jakarta, Aug. 25 -- The Ministry of Forestry has confirmed that it has not issued a Forest Utilization Business Permit (PBPH) to PT Sumber Pertama Sipora (SPS) for operations on Sipora Island, Mentawai Islands District, West Sumatra.

At a press conference in Jakarta on Monday, Secretary of the Directorate General of Sustainable Forest Management Saparis Soedarjanto clarified that the company currently holds only a Commitment Approval.

This approval was issued on March 28, 2023, following a recommendation from the Governor of West Sumatra and after the company passed administrative and technical verification.

"There are additional obligations that must be fulfilled before a permit can be issued, including boundary mapping, an environmen...