Closed lightweight brick factory in Banyumas caught operating again
Banyumas (ANTARA) - The Banyumas Regency Government in Central Java has again halted production activities at the lightweight brick factory of PT Inovasi Kota Nusantara (IKN) in Losari Village, Rawalo Subdistrict, after finding that the company had resumed production despite having been closed since 21 August 2026.
The discovery was made when a joint team from the Banyumas Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Office (DPMPTSP), the Civil Service Police Unit, the Public Works Office (DPU), and the Environment Office (DLH) carried out a sudden inspection at the factory site on Tuesday.
Head of the Banyumas DPMPTSP Roni Hidayat said the inspection was conducted after the regional government received reports from residents that the factory had resumed operations.
“The basis was information that the factory was operating again. When the team checked inside, the machines were found to be running and in production,” he said after the inspection.
According to him, the team also found trucks bringing raw materials into the factory as well as vehicles transporting finished products out of the site.
Officers also found management representatives, an interpreter, and foreign workers from China handling the production section.
Based on the interpreter’s explanation to officers, Roni said, the operation of the machines had been under way since Sunday (6/9).
He said the company stated that the activity was carried out to use up remaining raw materials in the machines while also performing routine maintenance.
“The company also acknowledged that it had sent a letter to the Banyumas Regent requesting permission to restart the machines for maintenance purposes,” he said.
However, Roni said the operation of the machines accompanied by production and distribution activities did not comply with the commitment agreed between the company and the Banyumas Regency Government on 21 August 2026.
“If it were only warming up the machines, that would be fine, but there must be no production activity. The initial commitment was clear,” he said.
The Banyumas Regency Government had previously temporarily closed all operational activities of PT IKN since 21 August 2026 after finding discrepancies between the use of factory land and the permits on record.
The results of supervision on 2 March 2026 showed that the company was operating on land of around 40,000 square metres, whereas the land area approved in the Spatial Use Activity Suitability Approval (PKKPR) was recorded at 24,485 square metres.
The Banyumas Regency Government deemed that the use of land exceeding the approval violated the provisions of risk-based business licensing.
Prior to the halt in operations, the Banyumas Regency Government had also issued a First and Final Warning Letter to the company dated 23 July 2026.
Although the operational activities were suspended, the regional government continued to provide assistance to the company in arranging its permits, including those related to Spatial Use Activity Suitability (KKPR) and Building Approval (PBG).
“Following this discovery, the Banyumas Regency Government has ordered all production activities to stop today and will follow up on the matter from both a legal and administrative standpoint,” said Roni.