Government Freezes 190 Mining Licenses Over Environmental Violations
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JAKARTA, Investortrust.id – The Indonesian government has suspended the operations of 190 mineral and coal mining companies after finding violations related to reclamation and post-mining obligations.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) issued the suspension through a decree signed by the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal (Ditjen Minerba) on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, under letter No. T-1533/MB.07/DJB.T/2025.
According to the document, the sanctions were imposed for breaches of Government Regulation No. 78/2010 on Reclamation and Post-Mining and Ministerial Regulation No. 26/2018 on Good Mining Practice and Supervision of Mineral and Coal Mining.
“Based on the findings above, the holders of mining licenses listed in the appendix are subject to temporary suspension of mining activities,” the letter stated, as quoted on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025.
The ministry emphasized that during the sanction period, mining license holders must continue to fulfill obligations on environmental management, maintenance, and monitoring of their concession areas.
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The suspension may be lifted if companies submit and obtain approval for their reclamation plans and place the required reclamation guarantees by the end of 2025. “The suspension is automatically revoked once the reclamation document is approved and the reclamation guarantee is placed,” the statement said.
The list of affected companies includes both large and small-scale operators across Indonesia, with most engaged in coal mining in regions such as Jambi, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and East Kalimantan. Other suspended licenses cover mineral operations in Bangka Belitung, Sulawesi, Maluku, and Nusa Tenggara.
Among the companies whose operations have been frozen are PT Sato Mining in Bengkulu, PT Anugrah Mining Persada in Jambi, PT Bara Prima Mandiri in Central Kalimantan, PT Zefina Bara Energi in East Kalimantan, PT Aspal Buton Nasional in Southeast Sulawesi, PT Tin Industri Nasional in Bangka Belitung, PT Indotan Lombok Barat Bangkit in West Nusa Tenggara, and PT Wijaya Nikel Nusantara in Southeast Sulawesi.
The government’s move signals tighter enforcement of mining regulations, particularly around environmental sustainability. Coal remains Indonesia’s dominant commodity, with exports and domestic supply contributing significantly to state revenues, but reclamation and post-mining obligations have often been neglected by operators.