The revocation of the Batang Toru Hydroelectric Power Plant Permit SUmatera Utara will be reviewed.

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia revealed that his party would review the decision to revoke the business permit of PT North Sumatera Hydro Energy (NSHE) which is a company managing the Batang Toru Hydroelectric Power Plant (PLTA) project.

For information, NSHE is one of 28 companies whose business permits were revoked by the Task Force (Satgas) for Forest Area Control (PKH) because it was considered to be one of the causes of flash floods and landslides in the Sumatra region at the end of last year.

"Of course, more in-depth studies will be carried out, including the FS (feasibility study). Later we will see the development after the study is carried out," Bahlil told the media, quoted Friday, January 23.

Bahlil said that the hydroelectric plant, which is located in North Sumatra (Sumut), has carried out a commercial operation date (COD) or has been operating since 2025. However, the operation of this project is still postponed and is targeted to operate at the end of 2026.

"The hydroelectric plant in Batang Toru, there are about 510 MW that should have been COD last year. But then there was a delay. And that also includes the one that was revoked (the permit)," said Bahlil.

The Chairman of the Golkar Party said that a study would be carried out on the revocation of the permit. Later, if there is no indication of a violation, the permit will be granted so that it can operate again in accordance with the target set.

Previously it was reported that President Prabowo Subianto had revoked the permits of 28 companies that were proven to have violated the use of forest areas.

Secretary of State Prasetyo Hadi at a Government press conference revoked the Forest Utilization Permit (PBPH) at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Tuesday (20/1), said President Prabowo made the decision in a limited meeting held online from London, England, Monday (19/1).

A total of 22 of the 28 companies whose permits were revoked are holders of the Forest Utilization Business Permit (PBPH) for Natural Forests and Plant Forests with a total area of 1,010,592 hectares, while the other six companies are engaged in the mining, plantation, and utilization of wood forest products (PBPHHK) sectors.