Jakarta – The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) has frozen hundreds of mining permits (IUP), with around 45 companies potentially losing their permits permanently.
Director General of Minerals and Coal at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Tri Winarno, said on Wednesday, 4 February, that dozens of coal companies that have failed to deposit reclamation guarantee funds will have their licences revoked, despite repeated warnings. These companies are considered to have shown no good faith in fulfilling their reclamation obligations, including failing to attend official summons from the ministry.
“To date, we have summoned them, and around 35 to 45 IUPs will certainly be terminated. This is because they have been summoned, but there has been no response. Meanwhile, we are still giving the other 190 IUPs ample opportunity to make improvements,” said Tri in a broadcast aired on the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources’ YouTube channel.
Previously, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources temporarily suspended 190 mineral and coal mining permits because they did not meet the obligation to deposit reclamation guarantee funds. Of these, around 90 permits were for coal mines, while the rest were for mineral mines.
Tri explained that a small number of companies have begun to show compliance. Of the 190 suspended mining permits, 10 have been reinstated and are now operational after fulfilling the necessary requirements. However, the majority are still in the process of rectifying their documentation and depositing reclamation guarantee funds.
“The others are still in process. We will see how serious they are. If they meet the requirements, we will reactivate them,” he said.
The process of fulfilling these reclamation obligations is carried out in conjunction with the submission of the 2026 Work Plan and Budget (RKAB) for approval. According to Tri, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is currently handling around 1,592 documents related to mine reclamation.
“There are currently 1,592 documents submitted for reclamation. This is because we require reclamation to be completed before the RKAB is approved,” he said.
In an effort to enforce compliance, the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal previously invited all holders of the 190 suspended IUPs to attend a clarification meeting. However, not all companies accepted the invitation.
“Of the 190 people we invited, only 126 attended. 64 IUP holders did not come,” said Tri.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has given companies 60 days from the date of licence suspension to fulfil their obligation to deposit reclamation guarantee funds. Before the suspension, the ministry had issued three warnings to the companies concerned.
The suspension of the mining permit is stated in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Letter Number T-1533/MB.07/DJB.T/2025 dated 18 September 2025, signed by the Director General of Mineral and Coal, Tri Winarno.
Even though operational permits have been suspended, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources still requires IUP holders to fulfil their environmental responsibilities, including the management, maintenance, upkeep and monitoring of mining areas.
“We have provided guidance. But some have not come, some have not fulfilled their obligations. Well, for those like that, we will revoke their permits,” Tri said firmly. (Hartatik)
Banner photo: Sander van der Werf/shutterstock.com
