State Loses Rp300 Trillion Due to Illegal Mining, KAHMI Urges Government to Legalise Artisanal Mining

Jakarta — Nasyirul Falah Amru, also known as Gus Falah, who chairs the Environment section of the National Board–Council of Alumni of the Islamic Student Association (MN-KAHMI), said that the legalisation of artisanal mining is an important part of the state’s effort to provide legal certainty for small-scale miners. The move would also help curb the rampant illegal mining activity that has, to date, harmed the state and the environment. ‘The state must provide a clear legal space so that communities receive protection, access to supervision, and responsibility for environmental preservation. It should also help tackle illegal mining,’ he said in Jakarta, not long ago.

Gus Falah also highlighted the significant losses to the state from unlicensed or illegal mining activities. He cited President Prabowo Subianto’s statement that losses from illegal mining are estimated at at least Rp300 trillion per year. ‘That figure shows that the issue of illegal mining is not merely a legal matter, but also involves national economic leakage, so legalisation becomes important,’ Gus Falah said.

He noted that the national dialogue forum organised by MN KAHMI is an important moment to build governance of artisanal mining that is just, legal, and still attentive to environmental sustainability. ‘This dialogue is important as a shared space to shape the direction of policy for artisanal mining that not only benefits the welfare of the people but also safeguards environmental sustainability. The state must be present to ensure artisanal mining does not operate in illegality or cause environmental damage,’ he said.

Abdullah Puteh, Co-ordinator of the Presidium (Korpres) of MN KAHMI, said that artisanal mining is a socio-economic reality that cannot be ignored. In many areas, artisanal mining is a major source of livelihoods for communities.