Prabowo Orders Revocation of Problematic Mining Permits, Here's the Update from Bahlil
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) will soon follow up on President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to regulate hundreds of problematic Mining Business Licences (IUPs), including those located in protected forest areas, conservation forests, and nature reserves.
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia stated that he has reported the results of the mapping of these problematic mining lands to the Head of State. He indicated that the execution process for revoking the permits will take place in the near future after the technical evaluation stage is completed.
“Yesterday, I also reported to the President regarding the President’s order on 7 April during the Government Working Meeting, where the President instructed to immediately evaluate the IUPs in forest areas, whether protected forests, conservation forests, or nature reserves,” he said at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources office in Jakarta on Friday (17/4/2026).
The regulation targets forest areas that do not yet have a Forest Area Borrowing Permit (IPPKH) or permits that cannot be converted. This arrangement is based on mapping conducted over the past week in accordance with the President’s instructions.
“I have reported to the President because we were only given one week, and in the near future, I will execute it because the mapping is already done,” said Bahlil.
The government plans to detail the total land area and the number of permits to be revoked in the near future. This policy is part of the government’s efforts to improve the governance of the national mining industry to remain in line with statutory regulations.
“The total will be announced later, how many areas will undergo adjustment,” he said.
Previously, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto ordered Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia to regulate hundreds of Mining Business Licences (IUPs) that are unclear. This is due to reports of illegal mining in protected forest areas.
He asked Bahlil to immediately conduct a comprehensive evaluation of mining permits that are indicated to violate regulations. He emphasised that the government will not hesitate to revoke permits for companies that do not meet legal requirements to safeguard national interests.
“I have also ordered the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources; I received reports of hundreds of unclear mines or unclear IUPs in protected forests and forests,” he said during the Government Working Meeting at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday (8/4/2026).
“I checked with the Minister of Forestry; I checked, oh alhamdulillah, the Minister of Forestry is okay, he hasn’t given permission to cut wood or IPPKH, alhamdulillah,” he added.
Prabowo gave a one-week deadline to Bahlil to complete the evaluation report. The aim is to ensure that all problematic IUPs are revoked and returned to the state.
“Immediately evaluate; if unclear, revoke all those IUPs, revoke all of them; we no longer have time to be too sympathetic, no sympathy now,” he stressed.
In addition, Prabowo also assured that there will be no exceptions or defence of specific group interests in the process of regulating mining permits.
“We only defend national interests and the interests of the people. Friends’ interests, associates’ interests, family interests, group interests—what number is that? Evaluate immediately, report back to me in a few days,” he asserted.