Gov’t to Crack Down on Mining Operations in Forest Areas

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia reports to President Prabowo Subianto at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Thursday (04/16). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/@sekretariat.kabinet Social Media Post)

The Government is set to crack down on illegal mining after evaluating mining business permits for operations in forest areas.

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia made the statement following a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, on Thursday (04/16), where he reported the permit evaluation results of mines operating in forest areas.

“There are [mines operating] in protected forests, conservation forests, nature preserves, and within forest areas. We reported it to the President, as I was given one week [to evaluate the permits],” he said, adding that he submitted the report by the deadline set by the President.

“I have reported it and, insha Allah, the results are positive, and I received technical directives to proceed with further execution steps,” he said.

For the record, the permit evaluation is a follow-up on President Prabowo’s directives to evaluate and revoke misused permits.

“One week. We must revoke all permits. We must revoke [permits if the businesses] violate the principles. The state must take control, so we can strengthen our institutions, our agencies,” he said at the Government Work Meeting with the Red and White Cabinet, Echelon I officials at ministries/agencies, and President Directors of SOEs at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, last Wednesday (04/08).

This strict measure marks a new phase in the reform of the national mining sector, ensuring legal certainty and good governance while maintaining a balance between natural resources utilization and environmental protection.

By bringing order to mining business permits, the Government ensures that natural resources are managed sustainably and in the national interest for the maximum benefit of the people of Indonesia. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (DH/LW)