No Official Notification Yet on Bakrie Group's Investment in Gold Mining in Mahulu

SAMARINDA, NIAGA.ASIA – As of today, there has been no official notification from the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/Coordinating Agency for Investment of the Republic of Indonesia indicating that the Bakrie Group is investing in gold mining in Mahakam Ulu Regency (Mahulu).

This was stated by the Head of the Licensing and Non-Licensing Division of the East Kalimantan Provincial Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Agency (DPMPTSP), Heru Pratama, to Niaga.Asia on Tuesday (7/4/2026).

Heru was asked for clarification in relation to the numerous pieces of information circulating on social media claiming that the Bakrie Group would invest in gold mining in Mahakam Ulu Regency, with some responses being positive and others negative.

According to Heru, in accordance with Law No. 4 of 2009 as amended by Law No. 3 of 2020 on Minerals and Coal, businesses such as gold mining require permits from the Central Government (Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/Coordinating Agency for Investment of the Republic of Indonesia).

“So far, we at the provincial level have not received any official information that the Bakrie Group will invest in gold mining in Mahakam Ulu. The Bakrie Group itself has not yet officially corresponded with us at the East Kalimantan DPMPTSP,” he said.

He explained that although permits for mineral mining (including gold) are issued by the Central Government, there will certainly be coordination and communication with the East Kalimantan Provincial Government and the Mahakam Ulu Regency Government before any activities take place, as the business to be conducted must align with the spatial allocation in the Provincial and Regency Spatial Planning (RTRW).

“We’ll see what happens later, whether Bakrie really enters Mahulu,” Heru remarked.

In response to Niaga.Asia, Heru added that the East Kalimantan DPMPTSP does not know the exact potential of gold in Mahulu, as that is the domain of technical agencies such as the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, but in general, it is known that there is traditional gold mining activity in Mahulu carried out by local communities on a traditional basis.