Far East Gold Ltd (ASX:FEG) has secured a key environmental approval for advanced exploration at its flagship Idenburg Gold Project in Indonesia, clearing a major regulatory hurdle and opening the way for expanded drilling across its priority development corridor.
The approval, granted by decree from Indonesia’s Minister of Environment and Forestry on March 11, 2026, covers the UKL-UPL, or Environmental Management and Environmental Monitoring approval, for gold and associated mineral exploration activities within the project’s Contract of Work area.
Approval covers core development corridor
Importantly for FEG, the approval applies to 8,950 hectares within the Idenburg tenure, an area the company describes as the project’s core development corridor. The company can now progress advanced exploration activities in the part of the project considered most strategic for future development.
FEG said the approval is significant because it not only allows drilling to accelerate in a highly prospective area, but also helps unlock the next stages of project advancement, including operational licensing and, ultimately, future mine development. The company noted this is the first time the Indonesian Government has granted this level of authority over the corridor.
Managing director and CEO Shane Menere said securing UKL-UPL approval across more than 8,950 hectares marked a major inflection point for the company at Idenburg.
“With this key regulatory milestone now cleared, we can accelerate toward development with confidence. This approval strengthens our foothold in one of the world’s most prospective gold provinces and is a crucial step to creating a successful pathway to development at Idenburg," Menere said.
Why the approval matters
The approval is particularly important given the broader scale of Idenburg. The project spans 95,280 hectares in Papua and already hosts a 2012 JORC mineral resource estimate of 540,000 ounces of gold at 4.1 g/t and 468,000 ounces of silver at 3.6 g/t, based on just three of 29 identified prospects.
FEG is also continuing a resource expansion program at the Sua prospect and has engaged consultants to update the 2012 JORC estimate using recent drilling results. In that context, the UKL-UPL approval provides a clearer pathway for the company to keep advancing exploration and development studies across the most important part of the project.
Next steps at Idenburg
While the UKL-UPL is a major step forward, FEG said it is also parallel-tracking forestry permits. The company lodged its Governor Recommendation application in December 2025, a required step before it can formally apply for the PPKH borrow-use forestry permit over the approved area.
At a project level, the approval strengthens FEG’s ability to move Idenburg from exploration toward development, while at a company level it represents tangible regulatory progress at one of its most important growth assets.
The company outlined its growth plans to Prpoactive earlier this year.
