Task Force Seals Illegal Nickel Mining Area in North Maluku

Indonesia’s Satuan Tugas Penertiban Kawasan Hutan (Forest Area Enforcement Task Force, or Satgas PKH) has sealed a nickel mining area in North Maluku (Malut) on suspicion of illegal mining practices within a forest zone.

“The Satgas team is working to enforce action against illegal or unlawful forest area exploitation across all forest regions in Indonesia, including in North Maluku,” said Barita Simanjuntak, Spokesperson for Satgas PKH, on Friday, 27 February 2026.

The operational area of PT MT has been suspended following the sealing by Satgas PKH. Simanjuntak disclosed that the enforcement activities carried out by Satgas PKH include reassertion of state control, collection of administrative fines, and asset recovery.

“In practice, reassertion of state control is carried out by installing signage indicating that state ownership has been reasserted through the task force,” he emphasised.

He stressed that the Satgas PKH team operates through a measured, accountable, and transparent system in accordance with Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 5 of 2025 concerning Forest Area Enforcement and other applicable legal provisions.

“Currently, the Satgas team is actively conducting verification of alleged forest area violations in the field,” he explained.

Simanjuntak stated that Satgas PKH enforces and curtails every violation. He said Satgas PKH is tasked with protecting and supporting every legal business activity over Indonesia’s forest areas in accordance with Perpres No. 5 of 2025.

“Enforcement action, as part of the Satgas’s authority, will certainly be carried out with care, caution, and professionalism,” he concluded.