Raja Ampat Mining Permits Issued Before Jokowi's Regime, Says Minister Bahlil

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia denied the involvement of former President Joko Widodo's government in issuing mining business licenses (IUP) in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua.

According to Bahlil, licenses for four companies and a company bagging a Contract of Work in Raja Ampat were issued long before Jokowi took office.

"The four IUPs that we revoked were issued during 2004-2006, still under the jurisdiction of the local government," said Bahlil at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

Meanwhile, Bahlil added, PT Gag Nickel had signed a Contract of Work since 1998, or during the New Order regime.

"So there is absolutely no relation to Jokowi," said Bahlil.

Bahlil stated that the government officially revoked four out of five IUPs in Raja Ampat on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. The companies whose permits were revoked are PT Anugerah Surya Pratama (ASP), PT Mulia Raymond Perkasa (MRP), PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining (KSM), and PT Nurham.

However, PT Gag was allowed to continue its operation after the government ensured that the company had adequate waste management according to the environmental impact assessment (Amdal).

"Earlier, you saw the photos. Alhamdulillah, it complies with the Amdal. So, as it's part of the state's assets, the activities can continue as long as we strictly monitor its environment, per Prabowo's instruction," said Bahlil.

The mining licenses for four companies were decided to be revoked after Prabowo held a limited meeting with several ministers in his residence in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java, on Monday, June 9, 2025.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, and Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni; which discussed nickel mining in Raja Ampat.

Bahlil previously stated that the mining activities of PT Gag Nickel in Raja Ampat were not situated in a conservation area. He explained that the location of the mine was on Gag Island, around 30 to 40 kilometers from Piaynemo Island, known as the main tourist destination in Raja Ampat.

This statement was made by Bahlil in response to the rejection of mining activities in the region. He then decided to temporarily halt the operation of PT GAG Nickel starting from Thursday, June 5, 2025, while awaiting direct verification.

Bahlil stated that there are five mining companies officially permitted to operate in Raja Ampat. Two companies obtained permits from the central government, while the other three have them from the local government.

Among them is PT GAG Nickel, which has had operation permits since 2017, under the ministerial decree Number 430.K/30/DJB/2017 valid until November 30, 2047.

Hendrik Yaputra, Nandito Putra, and Riri Rahayu contributed to the writing of this article

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