The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private arm of the World Bank, has decided to suspend funding in the palm oil sector, affecting the world's top producer, Wilmar International, pending a review of internal procedures on environmental and social standards. In a press release, it was confirmed Wednesday that World Bank President Robert Zoellick had taken the decision in response to an appeal by a global coalition of NGOs.

State power firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PT PLN) plans to put average electricity rates up by 20 percent next year after the House of Representatives rejected PLN’s proposed levels for margins and subsidies. PLN president director Fahmi Mochtar told reporters Wednesday that there were four scenarios being considered, “all of the scenarios focus on increasing the rates by between 20 to 30 percent”.