The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) is conducting a\nstudy on the governance of the Gunung Botak mining area in Buru Regency,\nMaluku Province. The ministry is partnering with the academic sector,\nspecifically Pattimura University, to formulate better natural resource\nmanagement policies.<\/p>\n
Director General of Law Enforcement at the ESDM Ministry, Rilke\nJeffri Huwae, explained that the involvement of academics aims to\nproduce a scientific basis for central and regional government policies.\nHe stated that this collaboration could help the people of Maluku\nbenefit from the mining sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe hope is that the harmonisation of the roles of higher education\ninstitutions and local governments can synergise, so that the management\nof the Gunung Botak mining business provides benefits to the community\nwithout causing negative impacts,\u201d he said on Wednesday (24\/6\/2026).<\/p>\n
The restructuring effort is motivated by the complex governance\nchallenges currently facing Gunung Botak. Operations in the mining area\nare managed by several holders of People\u2019s Mining Permits (IPR) who\nstill depend on external capital owners and technological control.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition, strengthening local government control over community\nmining activities is important to ensure that the utilisation of mineral\nresources can provide optimal benefits for the welfare of local\ncommunities, while minimising risks to environmental management and\nrecovery,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Through a scientific study approach with the university, the ministry\nis attempting to map all potential impacts from legal, technical\noperational, commercial, and environmental sustainability aspects. This\nis considered a commitment by the central government to uphold good\nmining practices.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe input, ideas, and critical reviews submitted by Pattimura\nUniversity academics will be directly integrated as the main substance\nin the preparation of the Study on the Effectiveness of Gunung Botak\nMining Business Management,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n
Previously, in May 2026, the Directorate General of Law Enforcement\nof the ESDM Ministry, together with law enforcement officials,\nsuccessfully dismantled illegal gold mining practices at Gunung Botak.\nInvestigators found at least two pieces of evidence pointing to\nsuspected unlicensed mining crimes in the area.<\/p>\n
Based on the collected evidence and a case review held on 22 May\n2026, a violation of Article 158 of Law Number 3 of 2020 concerning\nAmendments to Law Number 4 of 2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining is\nsuspected.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn that basis, the case handling status has been elevated to the\ninvestigation stage. The legal process will continue until the stage of\nnaming suspects in accordance with applicable laws and regulations,\u201d\nJeffri explained.<\/p>\n
The investigation into illegal mining activities, following a control\noperation by the XV Pattimura Regional Military Command coordinated with\nthe ESDM Directorate General of Law Enforcement, uncovered facts of\nillegal mining by PT X. These activities included opening mine access\nroads, constructing soaking ponds for gold processing facilities, and\nbuilding employee mess halls.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, law enforcement officials, specifically the Indonesian\nNational Armed Forces (TNI) together with the Maluku Provincial\nGovernment, also conducted a crackdown on illegal gold mining activities\nin the area. The land clearing operation involved an integrated team to\nhalt environmental damage.<\/p>\n
The main task of the integrated team was to clear the land of illegal\nminers. In addition to clearing the mining site, sweeps were also\nconducted in surrounding areas used as temporary housing or basecamps\nand gold processing sites.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no place in the land of Maluku for illegal miners,\u201d said\nMajor General Dody Triwinarto, Commander of the XV\/Pattimura Regional\nMilitary Command.<\/p>\n
During the sweep, the team found 16 foreign nationals from China\nconducting illegal mining. Officers also discovered a hut used as a caf\u00e9\nselling alcoholic beverages and a site for prostitution near the mining\narea.<\/p>\n
The 16 foreign nationals have been detained and handed over to\nimmigration authorities for processing according to applicable\nregulations. The findings also serve as an evaluation of the supervision\nof foreign nationals, which is considered still weak in the Buru Island\nand Maluku regions.<\/p>\n
The formation of the integrated team is an effort by law enforcement\nand local government to prevent environmental damage and social\nproblems. Furthermore, the crackdown was carried out to maintain\nsecurity stability and protect the state from illegal mining\nactivities.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/esdm-partners-with-university-to-reform-gunung-botak-gold-mine-governance-1782312726", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }