Batanghari River Shrinks, Illegal Gold Mining Activities Increase

The Jambi Regional Police, through the Muara Jambi Police Criminal Investigation Unit, have responded swiftly to community reports regarding the rise of illegal gold mining (PETI) in the Batanghari River Basin. These illegal activities are reported to have increased alongside the shallowing of the river caused by a long drought over the past two months.

One of the primary focus areas for enforcement is the Sekernan District in Muarojambi Regency. In this location, illegal miners operate using plastic drum rafts and small wooden boats known as ‘pompong’.

‘It has been quite a long time, and it is becoming more frequent since the Batangkeri river water receded. Miners use suction machines (dompeng) to extract material from the riverbed, which is then poured into filters (asbuk) on their boats,’ stated a resident, who expressed concern that the use of chemicals in these illegal mining activities could damage fish farming in the Muarojambi area.

Following these concerns, the Muara Jambi Police conducted an enforcement operation on Thursday (10/9). Although the perpetrators managed to flee when officers arrived, the Muara Jambi Police Criminal Investigation Team managed to secure approximately 10 wooden boats and illegal mining machinery left at the site.

Muara Jambi Police Chief AKBP Bayu Noormansyah, through Criminal Investigation Unit Head AKP M. Robby Nizar, confirmed the enforcement operation in the Batanghari River Basin area.

‘That is correct. When we descended to the location with several officers from the Sekernan Police Sub-district, we found a number of wooden boats suspected of being used for illegal gold mining. Following Thursday’s enforcement, we hope that illegal mining activities will cease, including in other areas within the jurisdiction of the Muara Jambi Police,’ Robby Nizar told Media Indonesia on Saturday (12/9).

Nizar emphasised that, in addition to being illegal, these mining activities have a detrimental impact on environmental sustainability, particularly by damaging the water quality of the Batanghari River, which serves as a vital life source for the community.

According to records, illegal gold mining activities in Jambi Province are currently widespread across six regencies: Merangin, Kerinci, Bungo, Tebo, Sarolangun, and Batanghari.

The methods used vary, ranging from motorised suction rafts to the use of heavy excavators in several areas, which are suspected to be funded by large-scale financiers.