President Reveals BRIN Discovers Massive Gold and Mineral Reserves in Papua

President Prabowo Subianto has revealed that a scientific expedition team led by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), in collaboration with several universities and supported by the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), has discovered large gold and mineral reserves in the mountains of Papua. The President considers the find a crucial asset for Indonesia’s future.

Prabowo stated he had only received the report a few hours before inaugurating the Mandatory Biodiesel B50 Programme at KM 57 Rest Area in Karawang, West Java, on Thursday (9/7/2026). According to him, the expedition had only been underway for approximately two to three weeks.

‘I just received the report a few hours ago. Our scientific expedition has only been working, if I am not mistaken, for two or three weeks in the mountains of Papua. The team from BRIN, together with several universities and assisted by the TNI, discovered very large gold and mineral reserves,’ said the Head of State.

The President assessed that the discovery further strengthens optimism regarding the national economic outlook. According to Prabowo, Indonesia possesses abundant natural resource wealth that must be managed to the greatest extent possible for the prosperity of the people.

Prabowo stressed that the government will continue various efforts to optimise the nation’s natural resource potential. Concurrently, the government is committed to improving governance so that natural wealth provides maximum benefit to the country.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, our future is very good, very bright. We just need to keep pioneering, continuing what our predecessors started,’ he said.

On the same occasion, Prabowo also affirmed that eradicating corruption, natural resource smuggling, narcotics trafficking, and gambling will remain government priorities. According to him, these measures are essential to prevent the nation’s wealth from continuing to leak away.

The President believes Indonesia possesses all the capital needed to become a developed nation, from energy and mineral resources to food. Therefore, the government will continue to safeguard national assets so they can be utilised to the greatest extent for the welfare of the people.