Four Nickel Mining Licenses in Raja Ampat Revoked, Government Takes Firm Steps

Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has taken a firm step by revoking the mining business licenses (IUP) of four companies operating in Raja Ampat Regency, Southwest Papua.

Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi revealed that the revocation decision was made by President Prabowo in a limited meeting with a number of ministers held at Hambalang, Bogor Regency, Monday, June 9, 2025.

“Yesterday, the President chaired a limited meeting, one of which discussed mining business licenses in Raja Ampat, and based on the President’s instructions, he decided that the government would revoke mining business licenses for four companies in Raja Ampat Regency,” the Minister said during a press conference at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, as reported by Antara, Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

The four companies whose IUPs were revoked are PT Anugerah Surya Pratama (ASP), PT Nurham, PT Mulia Raymond Perkasa (MRP), and PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining (KSP).

Also attending the press conference were Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.

New Rules for Forest Areas

On the same occasion, the Minister of State Secretary also announced that since January 2025, the government has issued a presidential regulation on controlling forest areas.

The regulation includes tightening the management of natural resource-based businesses, including mining.

This step is in line with the spirit of environmental conservation and increased supervision of natural resource exploitation in areas of high ecological value.

PT Gag Nikel has not been revoked, but temporarily suspended

Meanwhile, in a separate press conference, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia stated that the government has not revoked PT Gag Nikel’s mining business license.

However, the company’s nickel mining activities have been temporarily suspended since Thursday, June 5, 2025.

“For the time being, its production activities have been suspended pending the results of a verification review by our team,” Mr Lahadalia said at a press conference at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources office, as quoted from Antara, Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

PT Gag Nikel, a subsidiary of PT Antam Tbk, started operations in 2018 with a production license issued in 2017.

Despite having an EIA document, Bahlil emphasized that mining operations remain suspended until the field verification process is completed.

Pressure from Civil Society and Environmental Activists

Opposition to mining activities in the Raja Ampat region is growing stronger, especially from environmental activists and indigenous communities.

Greenpeace said that mining in Raja Ampat’s five small islands had destroyed more than 500 hectares of forest and threatened 75 percent of the world’s best coral reef areas.

Furthermore, these activities are considered to violate the Law on the Management of Coastal Areas and Small Islands, which emphasizes that exploitation on small islands must consider the preservation of ecosystems and environmental sustainability. (*)

Four Nickel Mining Licenses in Raja Ampat Revoked, Government Takes Firm Steps

Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has taken a firm step by revoking the mining business licenses (IUP) of four companies operating in Raja Ampat Regency, Southwest Papua.

Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi revealed that the revocation decision was made by President Prabowo in a limited meeting with a number of ministers held at Hambalang, Bogor Regency, Monday, June 9, 2025.

“Yesterday, the President chaired a limited meeting, one of which discussed mining business licenses in Raja Ampat, and based on the President’s instructions, he decided that the government would revoke mining business licenses for four companies in Raja Ampat Regency,” the Minister said during a press conference at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, as reported by Antara, Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

The four companies whose IUPs were revoked are PT Anugerah Surya Pratama (ASP), PT Nurham, PT Mulia Raymond Perkasa (MRP), and PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining (KSP).

Also attending the press conference were Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.

New Rules for Forest Areas

On the same occasion, the Minister of State Secretary also announced that since January 2025, the government has issued a presidential regulation on controlling forest areas.

The regulation includes tightening the management of natural resource-based businesses, including mining.

This step is in line with the spirit of environmental conservation and increased supervision of natural resource exploitation in areas of high ecological value.

PT Gag Nikel has not been revoked, but temporarily suspended

Meanwhile, in a separate press conference, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia stated that the government has not revoked PT Gag Nikel’s mining business license.

However, the company’s nickel mining activities have been temporarily suspended since Thursday, June 5, 2025.

“For the time being, its production activities have been suspended pending the results of a verification review by our team,” Mr Lahadalia said at a press conference at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources office, as quoted from Antara, Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

PT Gag Nikel, a subsidiary of PT Antam Tbk, started operations in 2018 with a production license issued in 2017.

Despite having an EIA document, Bahlil emphasized that mining operations remain suspended until the field verification process is completed.

Pressure from Civil Society and Environmental Activists

Opposition to mining activities in the Raja Ampat region is growing stronger, especially from environmental activists and indigenous communities.

Greenpeace said that mining in Raja Ampat’s five small islands had destroyed more than 500 hectares of forest and threatened 75 percent of the world’s best coral reef areas.

Furthermore, these activities are considered to violate the Law on the Management of Coastal Areas and Small Islands, which emphasizes that exploitation on small islands must consider the preservation of ecosystems and environmental sustainability. (*)