By: Arvian Damar *)
 
The Indonesian government under President Prabowo Subianto has demonstrated strong determination in restructuring the national mining sector. The commitment to eradicating illegal mining practices is now a national priority, not only because of the state’s losses reaching hundreds of trillions of rupiah annually, but also because of its impact on natural resource sovereignty and social justice. Through the President’s direct directive, the eradication of illegal mining has become a unified, cross-institutional movement involving law enforcement, law enforcement agencies, and relevant technical ministries.
 
President Prabowo emphasized that the country must not continue to suffer losses from illegal mining practices that have persisted for years and are controlled by large networks. He instructed the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), the Attorney General’s Office, and Customs and Excise to work together systematically to prosecute perpetrators of natural resource crimes. In his view, the management of mining wealth must be carried out transparently, efficiently, and fairly so that the results truly return to the people. ¬†
As a follow-up to this directive, the government established the Halilintar Task Force, tasked with suppressing illegal tin mining practices and improving national tin governance. This task force represents a new form of coordination between legal and economic agencies aimed at stopping tin smuggling, improving the monitoring system, and ensuring that all mining products are distributed through official channels. The government targets national tin production to reach 30,000 tons per year by 2026, with a stricter, data-driven monitoring system. This step is not only to secure potential state revenues but also to create a healthy and globally competitive mining climate.
 
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia emphasized that law enforcement will be carried out fairly and firmly without discrimination. He stated that anyone proven to have committed a violation will be prosecuted according to the law. This policy, he said, aligns with the President’s directive to uphold justice and strengthen the principles of good governance in the mining sector. Bahlil believes that efforts to eradicate illegal mining are not merely regulatory operations, but part of a major transformation to improve national resource governance.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is currently accelerating the digitalization of the mining licensing system as a preventative measure against irregularities at the licensing level. This system allows the mining business permit process to be carried out transparently, integrated, and publicly accessible, thereby minimizing the potential for manipulation. The digitalization of licensing represents a new milestone in the government’s efforts to build a data-driven, accountable and efficient mining system.
Meanwhile, the Director General of Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Rilke Jeffri Huwae, explained that the government is strengthening the legal framework and policies for fostering mining communities through the Community Mining Area (WPR). This approach allows communities dependent on community mining to continue operating legally, registered, and under state supervision. Rilke believes that this policy not only prevents the emergence of new illegal mines but also protects the economy of small communities dependent on mining activities. With a well-organized WPR system, the government can maintain a balance between environmental, economic, and legal interests.
 
In terms of law enforcement, the Director of Criminal Investigation at the Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency, Brigadier General Moh Irhamni, is implementing a two-pronged strategy: prevention and enforcement. The police are actively conducting outreach in areas prone to illegal mining to raise public awareness to prevent mining without official permits. Furthermore, oversight activities in officially licensed areas, such as those belonging to PT Timah, are being strengthened, emphasizing that all mined products must be deposited through official state mechanisms. This approach ensures that mining activities are not only legal but also meet good mining practice standards.
 
This decisive action by the central government has received widespread support from mining professionals. Sudirman Widhy Hartono, Chairman of the Indonesian Mining Experts Association (PERHAPI), believes that President Prabowo’s policies have opened a new era in reforming the mineral and coal sector. He believes that the issue of illegal mining has often been overlooked due to the complexity of the perpetrators and weak coordination between agencies. By establishing a cross-agency task force, the government demonstrates that the problem of illegal mining is now being addressed systematically and comprehensively. ¬†
Sudirman believes the government’s steps are not only a form of law enforcement, but also a symbol of political courage to protect Indonesia’s natural resource sovereignty. Based on the data,As conveyed by the President, more than 2,000 illegal mining sites have been identified throughout Indonesia, demonstrating the significant challenges in managing this sector. PERHAPI (Indonesian Association of Mining Entrepreneurs) itself assists the government by providing technical analysis on estimates of lost reserves, potential state losses, and the ecological impacts resulting from illegal mining activities.
Collaboration between the government, law enforcement, and professionals is a crucial foundation for building mining governance with integrity. Sudirman emphasized that the success of the illegal mining eradication agenda will strengthen global confidence in Indonesia as a country that is serious about managing its natural resources. He believes that President Prabowo’s steps are a strong signal that the government places national interests above group or individual interests.
The commitment of President Prabowo’s administration, along with stakeholders, marks a major step towards modern national mining governance. Eradicating illegal mining is now no longer just talk, but a concrete strategy towards economic independence based on fair and sustainable natural resources.
*) Observer of National Mining and Energy Policy
