West Papua – The government has confirmed its commitment to strictly supervise all mining activities in the Raja Ampat region, Southwest Papua, in order to protect marine and forest ecosystems that have high ecological value.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, stated that all mining activities in the region are currently being monitored comprehensively, both in terms of legality, environmental impact, and compliance with conservation areas and protected forests.
“For the time being, production activities have been stopped until the results of the review and verification from my team are completed. The evaluation is carried out in accordance with Law Number 27 of 2007 concerning the Management of Coastal Areas and Small Islands, which requires reclamation to consider technical, social, and environmental aspects,” said Bahlil.
The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) through the Directorate General of Law Enforcement (Gakkum) also took firm steps. Director General of Gakkum, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, emphasized that KLHK has prepared three legal instruments: administrative, criminal, and civil, to monitor and prosecute mining violations in the Raja Ampat forest area.
“Three companies are indicated to be carrying out activities in the forest area. Two of them, PT GN and PT KSM, have obtained PPKH permits and are being evaluated. Another company, PT MRP, is still in the exploration stage without an area permit,” said Dwi.
Dwi added that initial monitoring had been carried out through data collection in the field, and if violations were found, strict sanctions would be imposed.
“Any activity that has the potential to damage the environment will not be tolerated. The government has a strong commitment to preserving Raja Ampat,” Dwi said.
The government also appreciates the role of the community in monitoring environmental issues in Raja Ampat, as well as encouraging transparency and accountability in the mining evaluation process for the sustainability of this region, which is a world ecological heritage.
For your information, Raja Ampat is known as a global geopark area with extraordinary marine biodiversity. Around 75 percent of the world’s best coral reefs are in this area, making it one of the most important underwater tourism destinations globally. Mining activities in this area have raised concerns about the potential for permanent damage to marine and forest ecosystems.
There are five mining companies that have official permits in the Raja Ampat area. One of them is PT Gag Nikel, a subsidiary of PT Antam Tbk, which has been operating since 2018 with an Environmental Impact Analysis (Amdal). However, following objections from a number of civil society groups and environmental activists, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has temporarily stopped PT Gag Nikel’s production activities since June 5, 2025.
