Purbaya Resolves Danau Toba Fish Producers’ Complaint Over Investment Hurdles, See the Solution

Jakarta, VIVA – The Minister of Finance, Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, received a complaint from tilapia producers—namely PT Aqua Farm Nusantara—over Presidential Regulation No. 60 of 2021. The regulation limits Danau Toba aquaculture production to 10,000 tonnes per year.

The Director of Aqua Farm, Tri Dharma, explained that the regulation is not in sync with the permits the company already holds. Since beginning operations in 1998, the firm has licences allowing production of up to 34,314 tonnes per year.

‘So (this regulation) is not in line with the permits we have, where the licence allows production up to 34,314 tonnes,’ Tri said during a debottlenecking hearing at the Ministry of Finance in Jakarta on Tuesday, 19 May 2026.

He emphasised that the production permit held by the company since 1998 predates Presidential Regulation No. 60/2021. Consequently, Tri believes the rule will affect future investments the company intends to undertake.

Another aspect that, in his view, creates investment uncertainty is the 2023 North Sumatra Governor’s Decree that differs from the provisions of the Regulation. It states that the Danau Toba’s capacity should reach 60,000 tonnes per year.

With investments already amounting to US$100 million, business revenue of US$62 million, and tax contributions of around US$1 million, Tri asserted that state revenue from the company could still grow if its investment plans are not obstructed by these rules.

‘The market for tilapia produced by Aqua Farm, also known as Regal Springs Indonesia, has already reached international markets,’ he said.

In response to the complaint, Purbaya decided that Aqua Farm may continue to operate at Danau Toba, while a review of the Danau Toba environmental carrying capacity is completed by the government. If the results of the review, which are planned to be funded by the LPDP research budget, are finished, they will become the final reference regarding the production capacity that can be developed at Danau Toba.