Heaptalk, Jakarta — The Indonesian government’s recent announcement of issuing permits for religious community organizations, including PBNU, to manage mining businesses has sparked criticism. Environmental NGO, the Indonesia Forum for Living Environment (Walhi), has been at the forefront of this, raising significant concerns about the potential environmental impact of such a move.
Walhi’s Campaign Manager for Mining and Energy Issues, Rere Christianto, pointed out in a recent press release that the issuance of special mining business permits (WIUPK) to religious community organizations is not currently governed by a Presidential Regulation, a crucial legal document in such matters.
“Article 83A Paragraph 7 of Government Regulation (PP) Number 25 of 2024, regarding Amendments to PP Number 96 of 2021 on the Implementation of Mineral and Coal Mining Business Activities, explains that further provisions regarding the priority offering of WIUPK to business entities owned by religious community organizations are regulated in a Presidential Regulation. Therefore, I urge Investment Minister Bahlil not to make statements such as ‘in a few weeks suddenly, NU will obtain a permit’ since the Presidential Regulation does not yet exist. There are still rules that need to be made under the Government Regulation. The implementing rules under the Government Regulation to further determine this procedure are not yet in place,” Rere emphasized.
Furthermore, he mentioned that PP Number 25 of 2024 on Amendments to PP Number 96 of 2021 on the Implementation of Mineral and Coal Mining Business Activities places religious community organizations as a buffer for the government’s ambitions. Rere added, “They then become buffers to collide with social conflicts and environmental damage that have already occurred with PKP2B or become buffers to attract sharp public scrutiny, but in reality, the government is sneaking in other easement clauses for corporations to facilitate extensive private investment.”
Walhi believes that PP Number 25 of 2024 shows that for President Joko Widodo’s regime, mining permits are not a mechanism to impose restrictions, control, and protect against the environmental impacts of mining activities. “However, they only serve as a tool for power transactions and a clearance sale of natural resources, especially in the coal mining sector,” Rere concluded.
