Rosan Revokes Gold Mining Permit in Nabire, Papua
Jakarta — The Government, through the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), has officially revoked the production-operation mining permit held by PT Kristalin Ekalestari in Nabire Regency, Central Papua. The move is intended to enforce the law and protect the governance of the country’s natural resources.
The decision to revoke the gold mining permit was based on a recommendation from the Forest Area Enforcement Task Force (Satgas PKH) and a formal request from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).
Investment and Downstreaming Minister and BKPM Head Rosan Roeslani said the Government remained open to both foreign and domestic investment. However, compliance with environmental and licensing rules remained an absolute requirement for businesses.
“The Government continues to open its doors as widely as possible to high-quality and sustainable investment. But compliance with the law is an absolute requirement that cannot be negotiated,” Rosan said on Friday (23 October 2026).
Rosan stressed that all mining activities in Indonesia must operate within the law, hold valid environmental documents and remain within the concession boundaries set by the Government.
Request from the Energy Minister
The revocation of PT Kristalin Ekalestari’s operating permit is set out in Decision No. 20261012-01-0001, dated 12 October 2026. The decision corrects and cancels the gold mining permit issued by the Papua provincial Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Agency (DPMPTSP) in 2020.
The move followed a request from the Energy Minister in early October 2026, which referred to a recommendation from the Defence Minister in his capacity as chair of the Forest Area Enforcement Task Force’s steering committee.
A field verification in Nabire Regency found that the company had cleared land for mining inside a forest area without obtaining Forest Area Use Approval (PPKH), both within and outside its concession.
As a result of the decision, the 3,500-hectare gold mining permit area has been seized and returned entirely to the control of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia.
“The Government welcomes investment that supports economic growth. However, every business must comply with licensing regulations and environmental conservation requirements,” Rosan said.
Outstanding financial obligations must be paid
Although its business permit has been revoked, PT Kristalin Ekalestari has not been released from its responsibilities. The Government said the company must settle all outstanding financial obligations to the state.
These include any customs or import facilities for operational machinery, as well as meeting workers’ rights in accordance with applicable labour regulations.
The Investment Ministry will continue to tighten risk-based licensing oversight in co-operation with technical ministries, the Forest Area Enforcement Task Force and law enforcement agencies.
This co-operation is intended to ensure that investment activities in Indonesia are conducted responsibly and transparently, while protecting the environment for the welfare of the wider public.