ESDM Approves 664 Mineral and Coal Mining Work Plans
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has recorded that 664 mineral and coal mining work plan and budget (RKAB) submissions for 2026 have been approved as of 12 June 2026. Approval was granted after mining companies fulfilled various technical, environmental, mining safety, and state revenue obligations set by the government.
Director General of Mineral and Coal at the Ministry of ESDM, Tri Winarno, stated that RKAB approval is a crucial stage before a company can conduct operational mining activities. He noted that holding a Mining Business Licence (IUP) does not automatically allow a company to begin production activities.
“Every mining activity must have a legal basis, clear planning, and comply with all applicable provisions. Therefore, the government conducts a thorough evaluation of the various requirements that are part of mining governance,” Tri said on Friday (12/6/2026).
In accordance with Article 111 of Law Number 3 of 2020 concerning Mineral and Coal Mining, the RKAB is a mandatory document for holders of Mining Business Licences (IUP) and Special Mining Business Licences (IUPK). It contains plans for mining business activities, covering operational, technical, financial, and environmental aspects. The RKAB document serves as a reference for companies in carrying out mining activities during the exploration, production operation, processing and/or refining, and post-mining stages. Therefore, every RKAB submission must undergo an evaluation process before receiving government approval. The entire submission, evaluation, and approval process is conducted online and integrated through the MinerbaOne information system.
During the evaluation process, the Directorate General of Minerals and Coal examines various aspects, including administrative completeness and licensing legality, alignment of the mining plan with good mining practice principles, fulfilment of environmental obligations including reclamation guarantees, mining safety aspects, and the company’s ability to meet state revenue obligations.
“We continuously make corrections and evaluate the submitted documents so that mining activities proceed according to plan and meet the principles of good mining governance. Every approval is granted after all required aspects are declared compliant with the provisions,” Tri explained.
Regulations regarding the RKAB are reinforced through Government Regulation Number 39 of 2025 and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation Number 17 of 2025. All RKAB submissions are now made electronically through the integrated e-RKAB information system as part of the digital transformation of mineral and coal governance. Through this policy, the RKAB matrix has been simplified to three matrices for the exploration stage and ten matrices for the production operation stage. This simplification was carried out without reducing oversight of mining safety, fulfilment of non-tax state revenue obligations, use of mining services, community development and empowerment programmes, and reclamation obligations.
“Other matrices that are no longer used have been transferred into the periodic realisation reporting matrix,” Tri added. For business entities whose RKAB documents still require improvement, the government provides an opportunity to make corrections according to the applicable mechanism. “If there are still aspects that need improvement, we give them room to complete them. We also continue to provide assistance through coaching clinics so that companies understand the aspects that need to be adjusted so their documents can meet the requirements,” Tri said.
Hundreds of assistance sessions have been conducted. Based on evaluation results, several aspects still commonly require improvement, including exploration data and resource reserves, mining and overburden disposal plans, processing and refining aspects, marketing plans, and the completeness of company legal documentation. As of 12 June 2026, the Directorate General of Minerals and Coal at the Ministry of ESDM has approved 664 RKAB submissions for 2026, while other applications remain in the evaluation stage pending document completeness and fulfilment of applicable requirements. The government has assured that the entire process is conducted professionally, transparently, and accountably to ensure mining activities comply with regulations and support sustainable mineral and coal resource management.