Closing the Leaks! Indonesia's Tin Ore Production Surges Tenfold
PT Timah Tbk (TINS) has revealed that tin ore production in Belitung has surged nearly ten-fold, increasing from approximately 1,000–1,200 tonnes per year to around 10,000 tonnes.
This increase follows government enforcement measures aimed at curbing production leaks in the region. The President Director of PT Timah Tbk, Restu Widiyantoro, stated that prior to these enforcement actions, tin ore production in Belitung averaged only between 1,000 and 1,200 tonnes per year.
“Since the enforcement activities carried out by the PKH Task Force and the Tri Sakti Task Force have assisted us, leaks can be strictly controlled. Consequently, what was previously an average annual production of only 1,000 or 1,200 tonnes can now reach 10,000 tonnes—nearly a tenfold increase because the leaks have been plugged,” he said during a hearing with Commission XII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), as reported on Thursday (17/09/2026).
Nevertheless, this production spike has introduced new complications, as PT Timah’s Work Plan and Budget (RKAB) allocation for Belitung in 2026 was set at only 3,000 tonnes. He noted that this quota was exhausted in just about two and a half months due to high levels of community mining activity.
“The 3,000 tonnes were completed in just two and a half months. Essentially, the annual target was met in two and a half months because the community is very enthusiastic,” he added.
Once the RKAB quota is fulfilled, PT Timah is no longer able to absorb the production output from community members who continue mining activities. This situation has triggered unrest on the ground.
“This led to demonstrations that caused damage to our office, though fortunately, there were no casualties. Thankfully, following those events, many parties assisted us, leading to the issuance of Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 79 of 2006. That regulation has been a significant solution, even though its period of validity is only for one year,” he concluded.