Illegal Mining Poses Serious Environmental Threat in Muratara

The rise of illegal mining activities (Peti) in the Musi Rawas Utara (Muratara) Regency, South Sumatra, is considered not only detrimental to state revenue but also a serious threat to environmental sustainability. The lack of supervision and the absence of land reclamation obligations mean that illegal mining activities have the potential to leave behind ecological damage that is difficult to restore.

This situation has prompted calls for the government to immediately accelerate the auctioning of Mining Business Area Permits (WIUP) as a step towards organising mining governance and strengthening environmental protection.

The Chairperson of KOPRI PKC PMII South Sumatra, Nurlia Meliana, assessed that unregulated illegal mining activities risk worsening land degradation and disrupting regional spatial planning in Muratara. She noted that, unlike legally operating companies, illegal miners have no obligation to prepare environmental management documents, deposit reclamation guarantees, or implement post-mining programmes.

“Illegal mining has no reclamation obligations, no post-mining guarantees, and does not adhere to environmental standards. Therefore, the arrangement of WIUP is a vital part of environmental protection efforts,” Nurlia stated on Saturday (13/6).

She explained that the impacts of illegal mining are already becoming visible, ranging from declining water quality and damaged river flows to the emergence of abandoned excavation pits that pose potential dangers to local communities.

Consequently, PMII South Sumatra believes that opening WIUP auctions is not merely intended to attract investment or increase Regional Original Income (PAD), but also serves as a state instrument to manage natural resources more responsibly.

“If the government wishes to curb environmental damage, then mining activities must be brought into a legal and supervised system. Without official permits, no party can be held accountable for the resulting environmental destruction,” said Nurlia.

Nevertheless, she emphasised that the regulation of permits will not be effective without consistent supervision and law enforcement. Both central and regional governments are urged to conduct periodic mapping of illegal mining locations and to inventory the damage that has occurred.

Furthermore, enforcement against perpetrators and the funding networks of illegal mining must proceed in tandem with the process of legalisation and the formalisation of mining areas.

According to PMII South Sumatra, opening the WIUP auction in Muratara could serve as a momentum for the government to transform areas currently vulnerable to illegal mining practices into mining regions that are more organised, measurable, and accountable to both environmental and social aspects of the surrounding community.