ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — Indonesian authorities have seized 1,430 tons of illegally mined coal in a major enforcement operation in Muara Enim Regency, South Sumatra, underscoring the government’s intensified crackdown on unlicensed mining activities.
The operation was carried out on Thursday, December 11, 2025 by investigators from the Directorate General of Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).
As part of the action, authorities shut down three illegal coal stockpile sites located in Penyandingan Village, Tanjung Lalang Village, and Tanjung Agung Village, which had been used to store and consolidate coal extracted without permits.
Director General of ESDM Law Enforcement Jeffri Huwae said the seizure demonstrates the state’s firm stance against illegal mining.
“Stopping illegal mining is our priority. The confiscation of coal and equipment shows that the state is acting decisively, not merely issuing warnings,” Jeffri said in Jakarta on Friday, December 12, 2025.
Investigators confiscated coal in multiple forms, including in situ coal exposures, open stockpiles, and bagged coal ready for transport, totaling approximately 1,430 tons. Authorities also seized one excavator, one haulage vehicle, and several documents used to support the illegal operation.
Officials warned that the unlawful mining activities had likely caused state revenue losses and posed serious environmental risks, such as land degradation, erosion, and increased vulnerability to landslides and hydrological disruption.
The investigation revealed that perpetrators had purchased land from local residents to serve as a pretext for mining without permits, using local communities as a shield to legitimize the illegal activity.
Despite the firm enforcement, Jeffri said authorities continue to prioritize transparent communication with local communities to ensure that the legal process is clearly understood.
All three illegal mining sites were located within the Mining Business Permit Area (WIUP) of PT Bukit Asam, a state-owned coal producer. The operation was supported by the Indonesian Military Police (POM TNI) under Kodam II/Sriwijaya, local military personnel, and PT Bukit Asam to ensure security and smooth implementation on the ground.
Authorities stressed that shutting down illegal mines is not only about law enforcement but also a critical component of disaster risk mitigation. To strengthen deterrence, the Ministry of ESDM has imposed administrative fines for mining violations in forest areas, as stipulated under Ministerial Decree No. 391.K/MB.01/MEM.B/2025, covering strategic commodities including coal, nickel, bauxite, and tin.
The seizure sends a strong message that Indonesia will not tolerate illegal mining practices that undermine the law, damage the environment, and threaten public interests. (AT Network)
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