Ministry Uncovers Illegal Mining on Small Citlim Island in Riau Islands

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Directorate General of Marine Spatial Management at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has uncovered illegal mining activity on Citlim Island, located in Karimun Regency, Riau Islands Province (Kepri). According to the agency, Citlim Island covers an area of just 22.94 square kilometers.

“Citlim Island is a small island. At the moment, we are monitoring remnants of mining activity on the island,” said Ahmad Aris, Director of Coastal and Small Islands at the Directorate General, during a site inspection on Citlim Island, as shared in a post on the @ditjenpkrl Instagram account on Monday, June 16, 2025.

Profile of Citlim Island

Aris described Citlim as a small petabah island formed in a region with stable tectonic conditions. He added that the island, which lies within the administrative area of the Riau Islands, has a distinctive brownish land surface.

“When it rains, all the sediment gets washed into the sea, covering the coral reefs and seagrass beds around the island,” Aris explained.

He emphasized that small islands like Citlim are not allowed to be used for mining purposes. This is outlined in Ministerial Regulation Number 10 of 2024 on the Utilization of Small Islands and Their Surrounding Waters.

“Mining on small islands is clearly regulated in the Ministerial Regulation and is prohibited. Any mining activity on Citlim Island should have gone through a recommendation process with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries,” Aris stated.

However, he said that his office has not received any mining permit applications related to Citlim Island. He also noted that the ministry has the authority to seal the area.

“We have the authority, but they have not complied. Ideally, we should seal the site. There are also reclamation activities taking place, and I believe those have no permits either,” he added.

Jatam Identifies Mining on Riau Islands’ Small Islands

The Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam) had earlier released a report listing mining operations on small islands across Indonesia, including several in the Riau Islands Province. In a publication titled “Small Island Misery in Indonesia: Nature Plundered, Residents Impoverished, and Criminalized,” Jatam identified nearly 30 Mining Business Licenses (IUP) issued for such locations.

Among the islands listed as mining sites is Citlim Island. The following are some of the islands named in Jatam’s findings:

• Pulau Serasan in Natuna Regency.

• Pulau Subi Besar in Subi District, Natuna Regency.

• Pulau Karimun Besar or Pulau Nuwi in Karimun Regency.

• Pulau Bela in Karimun Regency.

• Pulau Parit in Selat Gelam District, Karimun Regency.

• Pulau Combol in Karimun Regency.

• Pulau Citlim in Karimun Regency.

• Pulau Bintan.

• Pulau Telan.

• Pulau Selayar in Lingga Regency.

• Pulau Bakung in Lingga Regency.

• Pulau Sebangka.

Yogi Eka Sahputra contributed to the writing of this article.

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