JAKARTA – The Center of Energy and Resources Indonesia (CERI) has revealed that PT Sari Dumai Sejati (SDS) is a company owned by Indonesian business tycoon Sukanto Tanoto.
“Based on our investigation, PT Sari Dumai Sejati is one of the downstream palm oil business units operating under the Apical Group. Apical Group itself is part of the Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) Group, a global natural resource-based manufacturing conglomerate founded and led by Sukanto Tanoto,” said CERI Secretary Hengki Seprihadi on Thursday (June 18, 2026).
PT SDS has recently come under media scrutiny after it was allegedly found to have constructed a Spent Bleaching Earth (SBE) Plant in the Lubuk Gaung Industrial Area, Sungai Sembilan District, Dumai City.
“The construction of the SBE Plant has been widely reported to have proceeded without the company first obtaining an Environmental Impact Assessment (AMDAL) document and a Building Approval Permit (PBG),” Hengki stated.
According to Hengki, based on records from Indonesia’s Ministry of Law Legal Entity Administration System (AHU), Approval Decree No. AHU-0017325.AH.01.02.Year 2026 shows that PT SDS is a foreign investment private limited company whose majority shares are owned by Global Resources Oils and Fats Industries Limited and Euro-Link Management Limited.
He further explained that PT SDS shares are also held by PT Alamas Karya Sejati and Global Advance Bio Energy (Labuan) Commercial Offshore Limited.
Furthermore, as reported by several media outlets, the construction site of the PT SDS SBE Plant is located very close to residential neighborhoods. The company has even built a concrete wall adjacent to residents’ homes. As a result, the project has sparked public concern and opposition, with local residents alleging that the company has not secured all the required permits.
Affected residents, together with their legal representatives, are reportedly preparing legal action and a civil lawsuit over alleged administrative violations and environmental impacts arising from the PT SDS development project.
According to Mimbarriau.com (May 21, 2026 edition), environmental expert and Riau ecological activist Dr. Elviriadi strongly criticized what he described as the Dumai City Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Agency (DPMPTSP)’s attempt to shift responsibility.
Dr. Elviriadi emphasized that the construction of perimeter walls falls under the authority of the local government and therefore requires official approval.
“The wall is under the authority of the city government. It requires a Building Approval Permit (PBG). Even a wall must be supported by an AMDAL or at least an Environmental Management and Monitoring Effort document (UKL-UPL),” he told reporters.
He explained that environmental impact assessments are processed through the Dumai City Environmental Agency (DLH), while the technical specifications and building permit administration fall under the authority of the Dumai City DPMPTSP.
“Environmental impact matters are handled by the Dumai City Environmental Agency. Technical building specifications are processed by the Dumai DPMPTSP. Only permits for the SBE processing plant itself fall under the authority of the Ministry of Environment in Jakarta,” he explained.
His statement contradicted the assumption that all licensing issues related to the PT SDS project fall entirely under the jurisdiction of the central government.
Previously, when approached by reporters, Dumai City DPMPTSP Head Raja Dona Fitri said her office had limited authority regarding the construction of PT SDS’s perimeter wall because it was allegedly under the central government’s jurisdiction.
However, a different statement came from within the agency itself. Andi, Head of the Licensing Division at the Dumai DPMPTSP, acknowledged that the construction of PT SDS’s Spent Bleaching Earth (SBE) processing plant and Solvent Extraction facility—both part of the Apical Group—has not yet obtained complete permits.
He further admitted that officials from the Dumai DPMPTSP have never conducted a direct inspection of the project site.(*)
