President Prabowo Orders Evaluation of Mining Permits in Raja Ampat

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia conveys his statement at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, on Tuesday (6/10). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)

President Prabowo Subianto has ordered his ranks to directly visit mining locations in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua province to verify the recent circulating news.

“I went there, together with the Governor of Southwest Papua and the Regent of Raja Ampat. Why are we doing this? Because we want to know the real conditions,” said Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia in his statement at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, on Tuesday (6/10). According to Bahlil, this is the Government’s proactive move to address the issue as well as to gather input from local governments and community leaders. Bahlil also explained that he and related stakeholders have coordinated to verify the recent circulating news.

“We always proactively follow updates from both the community and the social media,” he added.

Moreover, Bahlil stated that the Government also sought information from local community leaders to obtain comprehensive data.

“In the meeting, we sought information from community leaders regarding the real situation, what is really happening, and they asked us to consider the revocation of four companies’ mining business permits (IUP) operating in the Raja Ampat Geopark area,” Bahlil said.

The Government has agreed to revoke the IUP of four companies operating outside the Gag Island, namely PT Nurham, PT Anugrah Surya Pertama, PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining, and PT Mulia Raymond Perkasa. The Government only allows one company to operate in Raja Ampat that is PT Gag Nickel, which already has a Work and Budget Estimate Plan (RKAB) for 2025 and has had a mining contract (Kontrak Karya) since 1998.

“Of five companies (operating in Raja Ampat), only one company has RKAB, so only one company with IUP can operate, which is PT Gag Nikel. Other companies don’t have RKAB for 2025,” Bahlil said.

The Government emphasized that this move is part of the national mining sector’s restructuring, in accordance with Presidential Regulation Number 5 of 2025 on Forest Area Regulation that regulates the formation of the Forest Area Regulation Task Force. The revocation process will continue with cross-ministerial coordination.

“We immediately take technical steps, including coordinating with the Minister of Environment and Forestry to revoke the permits,” Bahlil concluded. (Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of the Presidential Secretariat) (TCUD/MMB)