POJOKSATU.id — A recent statement by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, has once again sparked a national uproar.
Amid an ongoing judicial review challenging the granting of mining permits to religious mass organizations (ormas) at the Constitutional Court (MK), Bahlil stressed that the government will not halt the licensing process.
Speaking at a press conference on the 2025 Performance Achievements of the Ministry of ESDM on Thursday, January 8, 2026, Bahlil’s remarks immediately drew public attention.
“We are currently facing a judicial review at the Constitutional Court. Once it is completed, we will be clear. But that does not mean we wait for it to finish before moving forward—this process can already proceed,”
Bahlil said at the Ministry of ESDM office in Jakarta on January 8, 2026.
This statement clarified the government’s stance that the process of granting Mining Business Permits (IUPs) to religious mass organizations will continue, even as the regulations underpinning the policy remain challenged.
According to Detik Finance as of January 8, 2026, the government considers all regulations underpinning the policy to remain valid. These include the Mineral and Coal Mining Law, relevant government regulations, and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation No. 18 of 2025, which grants priority Mining Business Permit Areas (WIUP) to religious mass organizations.
During the same occasion, Bahlil also shared updates on mining permits involving two major religious organizations.
“The one belonging to NU was completed when I was still at the Ministry of Investment. As for Muhammadiyah, it is currently being processed by the Director General of Minerals and Coal, as are the others,” Bahlil said.
This statement confirmed that Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) had already received a mining permit during Bahlil’s tenure as Head of BKPM and Minister of Investment. Muhammadiyah’s permit is currently under evaluation by the Directorate General of Minerals and Coal, while other organizations are still adjusting documents and preparing technical requirements.
This information aligns with reporting by Detik Finance and reinforces the government’s efforts to implement Government Regulation No. 25 of 2024, which provides religious mass organizations with priority access to Special Mining Business Permit Areas (WIUPK).
The issue has been unfolding since 2024. Several parties previously filed judicial reviews challenging the granting of mining permits to religious organizations. However, as reported by Petromindo in 2025, the Constitutional Court rejected the judicial review, deeming it improperly targeted.
The Court ruled that the petition focused more on technical regulations rather than the principal law itself. As a result, the core provisions allowing the granting of WIUPK to religious organizations remain valid and in force.
This serves as a strong legal basis for the government to continue the licensing process despite new lawsuits currently under review by the Constitutional Court.
Interestingly, while the government has opened the door to granting mining permits to religious organizations, Bahlil has emphasized that participation is not mandatory. Previously, the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference (KWI) publicly declined the offer, citing that it was not aligned with the Church’s mission.
This stance underscores that the policy provides an option rather than an obligation.
Nevertheless, the policy continues to draw strong criticism from environmental activists and energy governance watchdogs. Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia, along with environmental advocacy groups, argues that religious mass organizations lack the technical expertise required to manage mining operations and therefore are not business entities.
In the political arena, several members of the House of Representatives (DPR) have questioned the policy’s fairness, particularly for local communities near mining areas.
With Bahlil’s latest statement and viral quotations, the issue of mining permits for religious organizations has once again become a focal point of public debate.
The government maintains that the process will continue in accordance with existing regulations, while the judicial review at the Constitutional Court remains ongoing.
This situation is expected to remain contentious until a final ruling is issued by the Constitutional Court or the government takes new steps.
Source: Pojok Satu