Task Force Closes Illegal 275.36-Hectare Gold Mine in Nabire

The closure of an unlicensed mine in Central Papua has affected a 275.36-hectare gold mine operated by PT Kristalin Ekalestari in Makimi District, Nabire Regency. The Forest Area Enforcement Task Force (Satgas PKH) acted under Presidential Regulation No. 5 of 2025. Management of the land is planned to involve state-owned PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (Antam), Detik Finance reported. The company’s mining business permit (IUP) was also formally revoked under Investment and Downstreaming Minister/Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Head Decree No. 20261012-01-0001, dated 12 October 2026.

The permit revocation forms part of enforcement against illegal mining in forest areas. Defence Minister and Satgas PKH Steering Committee Chair Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said enforcement would continue despite resistance. He stressed that the task force’s work would remain grounded in the law and national unity.

“We remain committed to carrying out the PKH task. We are aware of the many forms of resistance, but with national unity, on the basis of Presidential Regulation No. 5 of 2025, God willing, we will resolve everything,” Sjafrie said in a written statement cited on Friday, 23 October 2026.

Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin said the state would hand over the seized mining land to Antam for management. The state-owned company is expected to act as both investor and mining operator. Burhanuddin said assigning management to a state-owned enterprise is intended to place mining under state control and ensure it benefits the public.

“We will hand this mining operation to a state-owned enterprise, in this case PT Antam. We expect Antam not only to be an investor, but also to become the operator as well as investor, so that it is genuinely managed by the state for the prosperity of the people,” Burhanuddin said.