Prabowo Reveals Discovery of Large Gold Reserves in Papua Mountains

President Prabowo Subianto has stated that an Indonesian scientific expedition team has discovered large quantities of gold and mineral reserves in the mountains of Papua. The team involved the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and several universities, supported by the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI).

Prabowo said the findings were reported to him just a few hours before the inauguration ceremony for the mandatory implementation of the 50 percent biodiesel blend, or B50, at the KM 57 Rest Area on the Cikampek Toll Road, Karawang Regency, West Java.

“I just received a report, just a few hours ago, that our scientific expedition, which has only been running for two or three weeks in the mountains of Papua, a team from BRIN with several universities, assisted by the TNI, has discovered massive gold and mineral reserves,” Prabowo said in Karawang, West Java, on Thursday, 9 July 2026.

However, the Head of State did not detail the location of the discovery, the estimated reserves, or the types of minerals other than gold found during the expedition. Prabowo merely claimed that the discovery ensures a bright economic future for Indonesia.

“Now we just have to keep pioneering, continuing what our predecessors started. Protecting our nation, protecting our republic, protecting goodness, reducing unkindness,” said the former Minister of Defence under President Joko Widodo.

Beyond gold, Prabowo also mentioned that Indonesia had recently discovered a giant gas field and still holds other reserves across the archipelago. “We have very large gas reserves, we just discovered gas in Andaman, we still have large fields in Masela, Southwest Maluku, and in Natuna,” Prabowo stated.