KONTAN.CO.ID – JAKARTA. The Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia Coalition considers the uncovering of illegal coal mining practices in the Indonesian Capital City (IKN) and the Bukit Soeharto Forest Park (Tahura) to be evidence of the weakness of the mineral and coal mining (minerba) monitoring system in Indonesia.
The case uncovered by the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim Polri) has resulted in potential state losses of up to IDR 5.7 trillion. These losses include the depletion of coal resources and environmental damage, particularly to protected forest areas. PWYP urges the government to immediately reform the governance and oversight of the mineral and coal sector.
“This is a strong indication of systemic failure. How could an illegal mine have operated for almost a decade in a national priority area without detection?” said PWYP Indonesia researcher Adzkia Farirahman in a press release on Sunday (July 20).
PWYP is pushing for a thorough investigation, including the alleged involvement of licensed companies and officials.
One method uncovered is the use of forged documents belonging to mining business permits (IUP) holders, such as PT MMJ and PT BMJ, to distribute illegal coal from Balikpapan to Surabaya using containers.
East Kalimantan Working Group 30 Coordinator Buyung Marajo stated that this disclosure is just the tip of the iceberg.
“There are still many illegal mines in East Kalimantan that have not been touched. This is not just about three suspects, but about a much broader network,” he stressed.Buyung also criticized the performance of the Illegal Mining Task Force established by the National Capital City Authority, which he deemed ineffective since its inception in 2023.
He believes a comprehensive evaluation of the task force’s performance is necessary, including interagency coordination and clarity of work results to ensure it is not merely a formality.
PWYP is also pushing for a comprehensive audit of all IUP holders around the National Capital City area.
Furthermore, strengthening digital monitoring, field verification, and public involvement in oversight are considered crucial to preventing similar incidents.
“This case not only caused fiscal losses, but also poses a serious threat to the environment and the future of Indonesia’s energy transition,” Adzkia concluded.