Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has recently instructed the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, to accelerate the revocation of Mining Business Permits (IUP) located within forest areas within one week. In response, Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia—a coalition of 33 civil society organizations advocating for democratic and inclusive governance of the energy and natural resources sector to advance socio-ecological justice—reminds that speed must not come at the expense of the quality of law enforcement, accountability, and transparency to the public.
Aryanto Nugroho, National Coordinator of Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia, stated that the President’s move is a test of the government’s commitment to improving natural resource governance. However, he emphasized that permit revocation is merely an entry point, not the end of problem-solving. He noted that Prabowo’s rejection of a two-week timeline in favor of one week sends a strong political signal, but risks becoming mere “window dressing” if not accompanied by transparency and accountability.
Aryanto stressed that permit revocation is only an initial administrative step and must not eliminate legal, financial, and environmental liabilities.
“We agree with the President’s spirit of ‘speed,’ but this must not undermine the quality of law enforcement. If permits are revoked but corporate obligations disappear and the officials who issued them walk free, then revocation becomes a mechanism for ‘whitewashing’ past violations or a gateway to redistribute land to new interest groups,” Aryanto asserted.
PWYP Indonesia highlighted the urgency of this issue, given that Indonesia’s forests are at a critical point. According to the Status of Deforestation in Indonesia (STADI) 2025 report released by Auriga Nusantara, deforestation in Indonesia surged sharply by 66% in 2025—a tragic reversal after years of decline. The report identifies the mining sector as a major contributor to forest loss, particularly through permits operating within protected and conservation forest areas.
“The report shows that this spike in deforestation directly correlates with the expansion of extractive commodities. Therefore, forest areas where mining permits are revoked must be fully restored to their forest function, not redistributed for new permits. If these lands are handed over to other actors, then Prabowo’s instruction is nothing more than a business rotation atop environmental destruction,” Aryanto added.
PWYP Indonesia emphasized that enforcement actions in forest areas must be conducted transparently and ensure meaningful public participation. Drawing on recent permit revocation precedents, civil society notes that law enforcement often stalls because government actions fail to address root causes.
Law enforcement should prioritize forest and environmental protection. Permit revocation must not be interpreted as the elimination of financial obligations, post-mining reclamation duties, or environmental restoration responsibilities of the companies involved.
“Revoking permits does not erase financial obligations, including unpaid taxes, non-tax state revenues (PNBP), as well as reclamation and post-mining restoration duties. The government must ensure that reclamation guarantees are available and enforceable, rather than leaving abandoned mining pits as deadly legacies for communities,” Aryanto added.
Furthermore, PWYP Indonesia demands accountability from regulators. The emergence of hundreds of problematic IUPs in forest areas is not merely an administrative error by companies, but evidence of weak oversight—or even collusion—in past licensing processes.
“There must be firm sanctions against officials who failed in their oversight duties, allowing illegal or problematic mining to operate within forest areas. If there are indications of bribery or gratuities, criminal law enforcement must follow. It should not be only corporations that are punished—rogue bureaucrats must also be held accountable,” Aryanto stated.
In addition, law enforcement must be accompanied by systemic reforms, from policy improvements to stricter licensing and monitoring mechanisms.
“Enforcement efforts must not be undermined by loosening regulations and oversight mechanisms,” he stressed.
PWYP Indonesia cited the case of Wawonii Island (PT GKP) as a clear example of how permit revocation or legal rulings often stall at the implementation stage. Despite waves of public protest and clear legal decisions, the public was surprised by the continued issuance of technical approvals such as the Work Plan and Budget (RKAB).
“The Wawonii case proves that our system is unwell. How can technical approvals like RKAB still be issued in legally problematic areas?” he questioned.
To ensure that Prabowo’s instruction does not lead to systemic failure, PWYP Indonesia urges the government to:
- Publicly disclose the list of IUPs under evaluation and revocation to enable public oversight and prevent under-the-table transactions.
- Ensure that all revoked mining areas are restored to their original function as forest areas.
- Affirm that permit revocation does not eliminate financial, reclamation, and post-mining restoration obligations.
- Impose strict sanctions on officials proven negligent in overseeing problematic mining operations in forest areas.
- Enforce criminal law against both business actors and licensing authorities if criminal elements or negligence are found.
- Strengthen licensing and monitoring mechanisms to avoid contradictory policies that enable the “whitewashing” of mining activities in forest areas.
- Ensure meaningful participation of civil society and affected communities in monitoring post-revocation processes on the ground.
“The public does not merely need figures on how many permits are revoked in a week. What people need is certainty that their forests are restored, mining pits are closed, and officials colluding with irresponsible businesses are brought to justice,” Aryanto concluded.
Contact Persons:
National Coordinator, PWYP Indonesia
Aryanto Nugroho: aryanto@pwypindonesia.org
Researcher, PWYP Indonesia
Muhammad Adzkia Farirahman: farirahman@pwypindonesia.org