Purbaya to Deploy PIP and SMI to Provide Soft Loans for PBNU Mining Cooperatives

Jakarta – The Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) has sought guidance from Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa regarding the establishment of the Koperasi Produsen Bangkit Usaha Mandiri Nusantara (KPBUMN) cooperative. PBNU Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf, known as Gus Yahya, stated that the request was a follow-up to government regulations granting mining concessions to religious mass organisations. “Our hope is for guidance from the Ministry of Finance, because many matters must follow the state financial regime. We need direction from the Ministry of Finance so that we do not make mistakes,” Gus Yahya said at the PBNU Central Office in Jakarta on Wednesday, 22 July 2026. He explained that this guidance is necessary to ensure all activities related to the mining concession management are on target and comply with state provisions. “The most important thing we hope for from the Ministry of Finance is guidance related to all of that. Meanwhile, for concrete projects, we will of course cooperate with other ministries,” he stated. Regarding the mining concession, PBNU is collaborating with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) to ensure smooth operations. “But to build the entire structure, especially concerning financial and funding matters, we certainly expect direction from the Ministry of Finance,” Gus Yahya added. He also revealed that PBNU is open to collaboration on other programmes with the Indonesian Government. “Like yesterday with the Ministry of Health, we agreed to cooperate on realising the free health check-up programme, as well as water health and sanitation programmes in pesantren, and so on,” he said. Responding to this, Purbaya stated that his ministry is ready to deploy institutions such as the Government Investment Centre (PIP) and PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (SMI) to provide credit on easier terms than the market. “I will see later whether it can cooperate with the NU cooperative; if possible, we will pursue it,” he said.