Jakarta – Civil society groups have raised concerns over the government’s plan to take over the Martabe gold mine during a public discussion organized by Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia, together with Article 33 Indonesia and the Transnational Institute (TNI).
The discussion, titled “The Discourse on Mining Nationalization: Does It Guarantee People’s Prosperity?”, was held in a hybrid format at the PWYP Indonesia office in South Jakarta on Wednesday (March 4, 2026).
PWYP Indonesia National Coordinator, Aryanto Nugroho, said the government should focus on environmental restoration and law enforcement in relation to the Martabe mine and other companies involved in the revocation of 28 mining permits linked to natural disasters in Sumatra.
“Why doesn’t the government focus on environmental recovery and law enforcement, rather than simply discussing the takeover of permits?” he said in his opening remarks.
As is known, the proposed takeover of the Martabe gold mine stems from actions by the Forest Area Control Task Force (Satgas PKH), which revoked permits for 28 companies.
The permits were revoked after the companies were deemed to have committed violations that allegedly contributed to natural disasters—floods and landslides in Sumatra in late November 2025.
However, Aryanto noted that the government, including Satgas PKH, has yet to explain the specific types of violations committed by these companies that led to the disasters in Sumatra.
Following the permit revocation, management of the Martabe gold mine is reportedly planned to be transferred from PT Agincourt Resources (PTAR) to PT Perusahaan Mineral Nasional (Perminas), a state-owned enterprise under the BPI Danantara holding. The revocation process by Satgas PKH and the proposed transfer to Perminas have sparked controversy because they are considered inconsistent with procedures mandated under Indonesia’s Mineral and Coal Mining Law (UU Minerba).
“Our concern is that revoking a company’s permit and then transferring it to Perminas will not resolve environmental problems. What happens is merely a transfer without improvement. This is not about who manages the mine—the key issue is improving governance, including compliance with obligations under mining regulations,” Aryanto stressed.
Meanwhile, Rachmi Hertanti from the Transnational Institute highlighted that the case of PTAR’s mining permit in Martabe has drawn significant attention and could potentially trigger investor claims in international arbitration if not handled carefully, particularly if it creates legal uncertainty. Although PTAR is a national company, its ownership chain is linked to international investors, including Singapore-based Jardine Cycle & Carriage, which enjoys investment protection under the Indonesia–Singapore Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT).
“Investor–state disputes can have a chilling effect on governments’ efforts to improve environmental sustainability governance in the extractive sector,” Rachmi added.
Giri Ahmad Taufik, an academic from Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) and Senior Associate at Article 33 Indonesia, also highlighted the growing tendency toward a state-led approach across various sectors, including through the expanded role of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Giri elaborated on the discourse and historical trajectory of interpretations of Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution, including the concept of state-led development and the role of SOEs in Indonesia. He recommended a model of state leadership that promotes meritocracy.
“If there is a discourse on asset takeovers, it must be based on objective data, oriented toward improving governance, and grounded in applicable legal provisions. That is what we call the rule of law,” he said.
Media Contact:
Iyan: aryansyah@pwypindonesia.org / +62 822 5101 6033