Minister Bahlil: Revocation of 2,078 Mining Permits Not Based on Ownership

President Joko Widodo has revoked 2,078 Mining Business Permits (IUP) from both mineral and coal mining companies. The revocation of thousands of these permits was carried out because the companies had failed to submit their work plans to the government for years. This action also represents a commitment to improving natural resource governance to achieve equity, transparency, and justice.

Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM, Bahlil Lahadalia, stated that the revocation of these IUPs would begin on Monday. He emphasised that the revocation was carried out without favouritism. “The revocation of these permits is done without looking at who owns them. We are enforcing the rules,” Minister Bahlil said during a press conference on Friday (7/1).

Minister Bahlil acknowledged that some of the companies whose permits were revoked included close colleagues of his. There were even companies that had previously employed him. “We must enforce the rules. The rules apply to everyone, not just one group or certain individuals,” he said.

The former HIPMI chairman added that after the mining business permits are revoked, the government will immediately redistribute them to credible companies, community groups, religious organisations, regional-owned enterprises (BUMD), and even cooperatives. “We have often said that businesspeople should not control the government, but the government must regulate. However, the government must not be arbitrary towards businesspeople. The permits we revoked are permits that are not operational,” he concluded.

President Joko Widodo had previously announced the revocation of 2,078 mineral and coal mining business permits because the companies had not submitted their work plans for years. “Today, 2,078 mineral and coal mining company permits are revoked. Because they have not submitted work plans, permits that were given years ago but have not been worked on,” Jokowi stated in Jakarta on Thursday (6/1). Jokowi criticised the indolence of these mining companies, which have taken the nation’s wealth without the people feeling the benefits. Following the announcement, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources released a list of the mining companies whose permits were revoked by the President.