Jakarta – The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) has confirmed its commitment to revoke PT Agincourt Resources’ business licence after President Prabowo Subianto made a decision based on the findings of the Forest Area Control (PKH) task force. The government stated that the process was not taken hastily, but rather through inter-ministerial and inter-agency reviews.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia said on Friday, 23 January, that the decision to revoke the licence had undergone a thorough evaluation process and was now entering the administrative and legal follow-up stage in accordance with the ministry’s authority. According to him, the government would not hesitate to implement the decision made at the presidential level.
“This decision has undergone a very comprehensive review. All stages of assessment have been carried out, and now we are entering the next process to execute the decision,” said Bahlil.
He added that the PKH Task Force’s recommendations were an important basis for the decision. The task force collaborated with various ministries and institutions to ensure that its assessment results were considered objective and accountable.
“This was not a unilateral decision. The PKH Task Force conducted an in-depth study, one of which was on gold mining activities in North Sumatra. Based on that study, it was then decided to revoke the permit,” he said.
PT Agincourt Resources is listed as one of 28 companies whose licences have been revoked by President Prabowo Subianto. All of these companies are suspected of committing violations in forest areas, which are said to have contributed to the deterioration of environmental conditions.
The government believes that the activities of these companies are exacerbating ecosystem damage and increasing the risk of disasters in a number of areas. According to PKH Task Force records, violations in forest areas are correlated with the impact of disasters in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra.
Previously, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi announced that President Prabowo had officially revoked the business licences of 28 companies after receiving the investigation report from the PKH Task Force. These companies consisted of 22 holders of business licences for the utilisation of natural forests and plantation forests, as well as six companies in the mining, plantation and timber forest product utilisation sectors.
“A total of 22 companies manage natural forest and plantation forest areas covering more than one million hectares, and six others are engaged in mining, plantations and timber harvesting,” Prasetyo said at a press conference on Tuesday, 20 January.
The list announced by the government includes PT Agincourt Resources, a gold mining company that is a subsidiary of PT United Tractors Tbk and manages the Martabe gold mine in North Sumatra.
Prasetyo explained that the decision to revoke the licence was taken after the President chaired a closed meeting to discuss the PKH Task Force’s investigation report. The meeting was held online while the President was abroad.
“The task force reported its findings on companies suspected of violations. Based on the report, the President decided to revoke the business licences of 28 companies proven to have committed violations,” he said.
The government emphasised that this measure is part of efforts to regulate forest areas and enforce laws against violations that impact the environment and public safety. (Hartatik)
Banner photo: Putu Artana/shutterstock.com
