Press Statement (Doorstop) of the President of the Republic of Indonesia After Witnessing the Handover of Confiscated State Assets from Illegal Mining to PT Timah Tbk at the Smelter of PT Tinindo Internusa, Pangkal Pinang City, Bangka Belitung Islands Province, Monday, October 6th 2025

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Members of the media.

This morning I went to Bangka and together we witnessed the handover of confiscated state assets from private companies that committed illegal activities, illegal mining, and mining without permits in the PT Timah area. Those involved have been punished. The authorities, including the Attorney General’s Office, have also seized six smelters. At the smelter sites, as we saw, there are piles of rare earth metals and tin ingots. The value of the six smelters and the seized items reached nearly Rp6-7 trillion.

However, the rare earth metals that have not yet been processed may have even greater value. It is very large. The rare earth metal called monazite. One ton of monazite can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, around US$200,000. Monazite waste totaling tens of thousands of tons, close to 40,000 tons, was found. We can imagine the state’s losses from just these six smelters approximately Rp300 trillion in total. The state’s ongoing losses have reached Rp300 trillion. We have now stopped this.

I thank the apparatus, the Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI), the Navy, the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla), Customs, and all parties that have worked quickly to secure these assets, meaning that hundreds of trillions [of rupiah] can be saved for our people.

I convey my appreciation to the Attorney General and all officers. This is proof that the Government is serious and determined to eradicate smuggling, illegal mining, and all violations of the law. We enforce the law without exception.

That is all. This is a big and proud achievement. I ask the Attorney General, the Commander of the TNI, the Customs, and the Bakamla to continue saving the nation’s wealth for our people.

I conclude my remarks.

I thank you.

(EST/MMB)