Government Refers Illegal Mining Case in Indonesia's IKN to Law Enforcement

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The police have exposed a case of illegal mining in the Nusantara Capital (IKN), which has cost the country Rp5.7 trillion. Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, has given his response.

Bahlil stated that they will leave the resolution of this case to the law enforcement officers. "We leave it to the law enforcement officers to carry out their duties. We support that there will be no actions taken outside the rules," said Bahlil after the inauguration of the Migas Corner at ITS, on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

Bahlil also declined to comment further on this case. He mentioned that they only have the authority to oversee mining activities with official permits.

"When it comes to illegal activities, it is the law enforcement officers' right to resolve. We (the Ministry of Energy) oversee mining activities that have permits," said the Golkar politician.

Previously, the police identified three suspects involved in illegal coal mining in the IKN area, East Kalimantan. The state incurred an estimated loss of Rp5.7 trillion due to the 160-hectare mining area.

The Director of the Directorate of Certain Criminal Acts of the Criminal Investigation Department (Dir Dittipidter Bareskrim) of the National Police, Police Brigadier General Nunung Syaifuddin, stated that illegal coal mining has been occurring since 2016. The location is in the Soeharto Forest Park (Tahura), Samboja District, Kutai Kartanegara Regency, or the IKN area.

Nunung continued, the investigation results show that the illegally mined coal was collected in a stockroom or warehouse and packaged in sacks. Subsequently, the coal was distributed by sea using containers through the Kaltim Kariangau Terminal (KKT) Port in Balikpapan to the Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya.

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