Illegal Mining in East Kalimantan Rooted in Pre-OSS Licensing System, Says Provincial Official
The Head of the East Kalimantan Energy and Mineral Resources Agency (ESDM), Bambang Arwanto, has revealed that the prevalence of illegal mining in his region stems from the licensing system used before the implementation of the Online Single Submission (OSS) system.
According to Bambang, the pre-OSS licensing system allowed overlapping permits to occur, particularly when permits involved different commodities on the same parcel of land. This created loopholes for certain parties to obtain permits on land that already held existing permits, or even on land that had not undergone proper ownership clearance processes. This in turn fuelled illegal mining practices across several areas of East Kalimantan.
Following the introduction of the risk-based OSS (OSS-RBA), the issuance of conflicting permits is no longer possible, as the system requires compliance with Spatial Utilisation Activity Conformity Approval (PKKPR).
Bambang explained that one of the reasons illegal mining remains widespread is the existence of permits that were granted despite the relevant land not having been legally cleared. As a result, some community members who feel they have rights to the land have chosen to engage directly in illegal mining activities as a means of meeting their economic needs.
This situation has created certain areas that have become corridors of illegal mining activity and are difficult to bring fully under control.
Nevertheless, Bambang stressed that since the implementation of OSS-RBA in 2018, further refined in 2021, systematic permit overlaps no longer occur. The East Kalimantan Provincial Government continues to carry out monitoring and enforcement against illegal mining activities across various districts.
He urged the public to participate in oversight by reporting illegal mining activities through the official complaint channels available at the East Kalimantan ESDM Agency.
According to Bambang, the pre-OSS licensing system allowed overlapping permits to occur, particularly when permits involved different commodities on the same parcel of land. This created loopholes for certain parties to obtain permits on land that already held existing permits, or even on land that had not undergone proper ownership clearance processes. This in turn fuelled illegal mining practices across several areas of East Kalimantan.
Following the introduction of the risk-based OSS (OSS-RBA), the issuance of conflicting permits is no longer possible, as the system requires compliance with Spatial Utilisation Activity Conformity Approval (PKKPR).
Bambang explained that one of the reasons illegal mining remains widespread is the existence of permits that were granted despite the relevant land not having been legally cleared. As a result, some community members who feel they have rights to the land have chosen to engage directly in illegal mining activities as a means of meeting their economic needs.
This situation has created certain areas that have become corridors of illegal mining activity and are difficult to bring fully under control.
Nevertheless, Bambang stressed that since the implementation of OSS-RBA in 2018, further refined in 2021, systematic permit overlaps no longer occur. The East Kalimantan Provincial Government continues to carry out monitoring and enforcement against illegal mining activities across various districts.
He urged the public to participate in oversight by reporting illegal mining activities through the official complaint channels available at the East Kalimantan ESDM Agency.