Palu (ANTARA) – Civil society organizations from regions across Sulawesi to Papua have called for a moratorium on mineral and coal mining permits.
The call was made during a discussion titled “The Urgency of a Mining Permit Moratorium,” held in a hybrid format in Palu on Saturday. The event was initiated by the Sulawesi–Papua Regional Coalition of Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia.
“Indonesia’s commitment under the Paris Agreement should serve as the foundation for reducing mining activities, especially coal. Coal production has far exceeded the 400 million tons per year limit set in the National Energy Policy (RUEN). In 2024, production even reached 800 million tons,” said PWYP Indonesia researcher Ariyansah Kiliu.
This call emerged amid the rising trend of mineral and coal exploitation following the enactment of Law No. 2 of 2025, which amends Law No. 4 of 2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining (the Mining Law).
The policy—reinforced by Government Regulation (PP) No. 39 of 2025—opens broader opportunities for various entities, including cooperatives, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and business bodies owned by religious organizations, to obtain mining permits.
Ariyansah added that the prevalence of illegal mining, weak supervision, human rights violations, and poor post-mining reclamation practices further underscore the urgency of imposing a moratorium.
Similar concerns have been voiced across Sulawesi. In Central Sulawesi, the Kompas Peduli Hutan Foundation (KoMIU) stated that mining activities have not brought significant economic benefits to local communities.
“On the contrary, what we see are social conflicts, damaged infrastructure, flooding, deforestation, and clean water crises,” said Ufudin from KoMIU.
He urged the central government to seriously consider a nationwide moratorium on mining permits.
Meanwhile, the Director of WALHI Central Sulawesi, Sunardi Katili, emphasized that a moratorium is crucial, given the worsening ecological destruction and human rights violations caused by mining operations.
From South Sulawesi, the Executive Director of YASMIB Sulawesi, Rosniaty Panguriseng, said that the moratorium is highly relevant to the region’s development agenda and the national commitment toward a green economy.
“A moratorium is not an anti-investment measure; it is an effort to improve governance so that development does not trade public welfare for environmental degradation,” she asserted.
Support also came from LePMIL Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra). Its Director, Solihin, highlighted the chaotic state of mining governance—from licensing and state revenue management to the impacts on Indigenous peoples and the environment.
“This environmental and social emergency demands concrete action. The state must immediately impose a moratorium on mining operations in Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua,” he said.
The final call came from Papua. Director of PERDU Papua, Risdianto, underscored the urgency of a mining permit moratorium in West Papua and surrounding areas. He pointed to several mining cases in Raja Ampat, Manokwari, Arfak Mountains, and Tambrauw as evidence of the dire situation.
“A moratorium is essential to ensure the recognition of Indigenous peoples’ rights and environmental sustainability. Both central and local governments must prepare legal frameworks and restructure authority to make mining governance more just and ecological,” he said.
Source: Antara