Conservation Group Refuted: PB KIBAR Says PT Conch Investment Based on Latest Regulations

The Central Board of the Barru Activists Union (PB KIBAR) has spoken out in response to a manoeuvre by South Sulawesi Indonesian Nature Conservation Observers, who brought their opposition to the investment of PT Conch Barru Cement Indonesia before Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representatives on Monday (8/6/2026). General Chairman of PB KIBAR, Fahrul Islam, S.K.M., assessed that the narrative constructed by the opposing group is laden with information distortion, is not based on the latest regulations, and has the potential to harm the economic interests of the Barru Regency community. “We assert that the group has failed to distinguish between past investment plans and the current commitment to fulfilling regulations,” Fahrul stated in a press release in Barru on Wednesday (10/6/2026). Fahrul urged all parties to objectively examine the Supreme Court Ruling Number 580 K/TUN/2018, which was corroborated by Judicial Review Decision Number 159 PK/TUN/LH/2019 nine years ago. According to him, the ruling annulled the Environmental Feasibility Decree (SKKL) issued by the Barru regional government under the old system for the cement factory project, rather than prohibiting PT Conch from investing. “PT Conch has complied with this sanction by completely halting the planned cement factory activities. The existing office, which has stood for nine years, is an administrative facility, not a new factory. Therefore, the insistence on forcing the regional government to issue a First Warning Letter (SP1) now is misdirected and legally flawed,” he asserted. Regarding the PT Conch office building which has not yet obtained Building Approval (PBG, formerly known as IMB), PB KIBAR clarified that this is a consequence of past administrative disputes. The company is currently pursuing the correct legal path in accordance with national regulations. “Based on current business licensing rules, a company cannot process the existing PBG or Certificate of Fitness for Use (SLF) without initiating the process from the SKKL first. Complete the environmental impact analysis documents (AMDAL) and have the SKKL issued by the relevant agency, then the PBG can be processed. Accusing the building of being permanently illegal is a distortion of facts,” Fahrul elaborated. Fahrul also refuted the opposing group’s argument regarding an alleged violation of the national cement industry moratorium due to oversupply. Based on official tracking data from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry’s Amdalnet system (Registration Number: 693bfb3cd743a), PT Conch’s business plan has completely changed since September 2025. “PT Conch is not building a giant, polluting cement plant. The proposed business plan has completely transformed into a factory for making cement bags (plastic goods for packaging) and a packing plant facility. This is a downstream industry unrelated to the national raw cement production quota,” he explained. Addressing accusations of violating Barru Regency Regional Regulation on Spatial Planning Number 4 of 2012 in the Mangempang/Sepee urban village, Fahrul explained that the modern risk-based licensing architecture (Online Single Submission/OSS) following the Job Creation Law uses different instruments. “The basis for determining the suitability of an industrial location is no longer the macro-level spatial planning document (RTRW), but rather the Detailed Spatial Plan (RDTR), which is digitally integrated. Based on spatial zoning in the OSS electronic system, the location for this non-polluting downstream industry of PT Conch has met the spatial suitability prerequisites,” he said. Furthermore, PB KIBAR expressed regret over the double standards of the opposing individuals. Fahrul revealed that in September 2025, PT Conch had held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) at the Youtefa Hotel in Barru, involving journalists, affected residents, community organisations, regional government agencies, and Commission II of the Barru Regional House of Representatives (DPRD). “Ironically, some of the individuals who went to the Indonesian House of Representatives were the very ones who spearheaded that FGD and had agreed to a recommendation for PT Conch to operate under certain conditions. However, when the Barru DPRD facilitated a Hearing Meeting (RDP) at the regional level for data verification, they were reluctant to attend, and some walked out,” Fahrul stated. According to monitoring of the official Amdalnet portal as of 4 June 2026, the ANDAL and RKL-RPL document files of PT Conch have been officially declared complete and correct by the Assessment Team and have now entered the finalisation stage for the drafting of the SKKL. On that basis, PB KIBAR is asking the South Sulawesi Provincial Government and the Provincial Environment and Forestry Service to act objectively and not hold the legal certainty of investment in the region hostage. Moreover, the aspirations of the majority of the Barru community who need employment have been represented through the support of 25 members of the Barru DPRD towards the provincial level. “We appeal to all youth, student, and community elements in Barru Regency to remain calm, be critical based on data, and not be easily provoked by impure rejection movements,” Fahrul concluded.