Government Explains Follow-Up to Revocation of Four Nickel Mining Permits in Raja Ampat
JAKARTA — The government has provided an explanation regarding the follow-up to its decision to revoke the mining business permits (IUP) of four nickel mining companies in Raja Ampat.
As previously reported, the government officially revoked the permits of four out of five nickel mining companies in Raja Ampat, namely PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining, PT Anugerah Surya Pratama, PT Mulia Raymond Perkasa, and PT Nurham.
Director General of Minerals and Coal at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Tri Winarno, said the follow-up measures had already been forwarded to the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/BKPM.
"As far as I know, it has already been sent to BKPM," Tri told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih Building in Jakarta on Thursday (24/7/2025).
Tri said the follow-up to the permit revocations for the four mining companies now rests with BKPM. This was confirmed by Secretary General of the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/BKPM, Heldy Satrya Putera, who said the revocations would also be processed through the Online Single Submission (OSS) system.
"Yes, the revocation will also go through OSS," he said.
Nevertheless, Heldy added that his office is currently conducting field inspections of the four mining companies in Raja Ampat. These inspection and supervisory efforts are in accordance with the provisions of the Job Creation Law.
"The results will be reported in due course. This will serve as our legal basis for carrying out the revocations," he said.
Meanwhile, only PT Gag Nikel among the five nickel mining companies in Raja Ampat has been permitted to continue operations. The Ministry of Environment is currently close to completing its study on the environmental impact of PT Gag's nickel mining activities.
The Ministry of Environment had previously stated it would review the environmental approval of PT Gag Nikel's mining permit. Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said PT Gag Nikel operates on Gag Island, which covers 6,030 hectares and falls under the category of a small island.
PT Gag Nikel's contract of work covers 13,136 hectares encompassing Gag Island and its surrounding waters, all of which lie within a protected forest area.
Under Law No. 19/2004 — which enacted the Government Regulation in Lieu of Law No. 1/2004 amending Law No. 41/1999 on Forestry — PT Gag Nikel is one of 13 contract of work holders permitted to conduct open-pit mining in protected forest areas.
In principle, open-pit mining is prohibited in protected forest areas under Law No. 41/1999 on Forestry. However, an exception was made for 13 companies, including PT Gag Nikel, through Law No. 19/2004, rendering their mining activities legal.
"These 13 companies, including PT Gag Nikel, are permitted under Law No. 19 of 2004, and therefore their mining operations are legal," the minister said at a press conference on Sunday (8/6/2025).
As previously reported, the government officially revoked the permits of four out of five nickel mining companies in Raja Ampat, namely PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining, PT Anugerah Surya Pratama, PT Mulia Raymond Perkasa, and PT Nurham.
Director General of Minerals and Coal at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Tri Winarno, said the follow-up measures had already been forwarded to the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/BKPM.
"As far as I know, it has already been sent to BKPM," Tri told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih Building in Jakarta on Thursday (24/7/2025).
Tri said the follow-up to the permit revocations for the four mining companies now rests with BKPM. This was confirmed by Secretary General of the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/BKPM, Heldy Satrya Putera, who said the revocations would also be processed through the Online Single Submission (OSS) system.
"Yes, the revocation will also go through OSS," he said.
Nevertheless, Heldy added that his office is currently conducting field inspections of the four mining companies in Raja Ampat. These inspection and supervisory efforts are in accordance with the provisions of the Job Creation Law.
"The results will be reported in due course. This will serve as our legal basis for carrying out the revocations," he said.
Meanwhile, only PT Gag Nikel among the five nickel mining companies in Raja Ampat has been permitted to continue operations. The Ministry of Environment is currently close to completing its study on the environmental impact of PT Gag's nickel mining activities.
The Ministry of Environment had previously stated it would review the environmental approval of PT Gag Nikel's mining permit. Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said PT Gag Nikel operates on Gag Island, which covers 6,030 hectares and falls under the category of a small island.
PT Gag Nikel's contract of work covers 13,136 hectares encompassing Gag Island and its surrounding waters, all of which lie within a protected forest area.
Under Law No. 19/2004 — which enacted the Government Regulation in Lieu of Law No. 1/2004 amending Law No. 41/1999 on Forestry — PT Gag Nikel is one of 13 contract of work holders permitted to conduct open-pit mining in protected forest areas.
In principle, open-pit mining is prohibited in protected forest areas under Law No. 41/1999 on Forestry. However, an exception was made for 13 companies, including PT Gag Nikel, through Law No. 19/2004, rendering their mining activities legal.
"These 13 companies, including PT Gag Nikel, are permitted under Law No. 19 of 2004, and therefore their mining operations are legal," the minister said at a press conference on Sunday (8/6/2025).