Central Java Police to Intensify Crackdown on Illegal Oil Wells
Semarang – The Director of Special Criminal Investigation at the Central Java Provincial Police (Polda Jateng), Senior Commissioner Djoko Julianto, stated that his unit will intensify the crackdown on illegal oil well drilling in the Central Java region. This was announced after his team uncovered operations at three illegal oil wells in Blora Regency.
Djoko revealed that the dismantling of illegal oil wells will not stop at Blora. “We will likely take similar actions in other locations. We, the Central Java Provincial Police, particularly the Criminal Investigation Unit and Special Crimes Unit, are making maximum efforts regarding the illegal drilling perpetrators in the Central Java Province,” he said during an interview at the headquarters of the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of Polda Jateng in Semarang City on Tuesday (14/4/2026).
He added that in their enforcement efforts, they will coordinate with SKK Migas. “We will coordinate with SKK Migas to identify which wells are not classified as old wells or new wells that we will subsequently take action against,” Djoko stated.
The Head of the Energy and Mineral Resources Office (ESDM) of Central Java Province, Agus Sugiharto, previously noted that some residents have misinterpreted Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation Number 14 of 2025 on Cooperation for Managing Working Areas to Increase Oil and Natural Gas Production. The regulation is seen as a legal basis for drilling new oil wells.
He emphasised that Ministry of ESDM Regulation Number 14 of 2025 is not a legal foundation for drilling new civilian oil and gas wells. “But this is for old wells, wells that have already been drilled and are producing. Not for wells that are about to be drilled; we do not validate those,” Agus said in September 2025.
According to Agus, economic conditions or factors often drive residents to drill oil and gas wells. Agus disclosed that there are more than 5,500 community oil and gas wells that need validation in Central Java. The highest number is in Blora Regency, with more than 3,100 wells.