BKPM Revokes 1,118 Mining Business Permits, Bahlil: If Anyone Has Objections, Please Come To The Task Force

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Investment/Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Bahlil Lahadahlia, revealed that 1,118 Mining Business Permits or IUPs had been revoked with a total area of 2,707,433 hectares revoked.

"As of April 24, we revoked 1,118 IUPs, which were converted to an area of 2.7 million hectares", said Minister Bahlil in his statement in Jakarta, Monday, April 25.

Bahlil revealed, previously President Joko Widodo on January 6, 2022, had announced that he would revoke 2,078 IUPs and 192 permits for the use of forest areas and 34,448 Ha of Cultivation Rights (HGU) and Building Rights (HGB) which are not implemented, are not productive, and transferred to another party, or not by the designation or regulations.

Bahlil detailed that these IUPs consist of 102 IUP for nickel, 50 IUP for bauxite, 271 IUP for coal, 237 IUP for tin, 141 IUP for copper, 59 IUP for gold, and 385 IUP for other minerals.

He further revealed that the background of the revocation of the IUP permit was because the government had given the permit but it was not used properly, for example being mortgaged at a bank or being traded.

“This IUP revocation is indiscriminate, there is no conflict of interest and we only read the dictum and we can guarantee that this is the same treatment for everyone. There is no discrimination", he said.

Bahlil assessed that in the realization of the revocation of permits, a total of 1,118 IUPs were revoked, and 227 companies submitted objections to Minister Bahlil or through the Land Use Management and Investment Management task force.

He also invited companies who wish to submit objections or protests through the task force. Bahlil said that the mechanism for submitting objections was for business actors to submit a letter of objection to the Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM through the Deputy for Investment Implementation Control.

"Or the Deputy for Investment Implementation Control will send an invitation to a meeting to clarify the Decree on the Revocation of IUP to business actors and business actors are asked to prepare supporting documents, proof of fulfillment of obligations, as well as justification related to business activities for the revoked IUP", he added.

After the process is carried out, Bahlil will carry out joint verification, if later it turns out that the entrepreneur and the IUP are correct, his position will be returned through the existing decision-making mechanism.

"In this case, the ministry of investment, ESDM is to eliminate the sense of injustice, so we are open to those who want to complain. As a former entrepreneur, I know very well, I can't be arbitrary to entrepreneurs", he concluded.