Prabowo Claims Massive Gold Reserve Found in Papua, Bahlil Responds

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia has responded to President Prabowo Subianto’s statement regarding the discovery of a new gold reserve in the Papua region. Bahlil acknowledged the promising potential of the gold resources but refrained from disclosing specific details. “Because we are not yet, I cannot convey what has not been announced in detail. I am the President’s assistant, so I must not precede the President,” he said on the sidelines of the Mandatory B50 Launch event at the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road rest area, Friday (10/7/2026). He added, “If it’s Papuan gold, it’s usually good quality.”

President Prabowo Subianto had earlier revealed that he had just received a report from a scientific expedition team regarding the discovery of very large gold and mineral reserves. The scientific team comprised the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), several universities, and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI). “I have just received a report from our scientific expedition, which has only been running for 2-3 weeks in the Papuan mountains. The TNI-assisted team from BRIN and several universities discovered very large gold and mineral reserves,” Prabowo explained at the same event in Karawang, West Java. He expressed confidence that this discovery signals a very good and bright future for Indonesia. The President also noted that Indonesia has recently discovered giant gas reserves in several regions, including Andaman (Aceh), Masela (Southwest Maluku), Natuna, and new large fields in Kalimantan.