Prabowo Seizes 6 Illegal Smelters That Lose Rp300 Trillion To The State

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The government confiscated 6 illegal smelters in Bangka Belitung which cost the state up to Rp300 trillion. Just so you know, these 6 companies carried out mining activities in the Mining Business Permit (IUP) area owned by PT Timah Tbk (TINS).

Present at the confiscation, President Prabowo Subianto, said that this confiscation resulted in the government's serious commitment to eradicating smuggling, illegal mining, and all types of violations of the law.

"Together, we witnessed the handover of state booty from private companies that violated permits in the PT Timah area," said Prabowo, Monday, October 6.

Based on his observations, Prabowo said that at the smelter location, piles of rare soil and chunks of tin metal were also found. According to him, the value of the confiscated company's assets reached IDR 6 to IDR 7 trillion.

"But rare lands that have not been decomposed may be of greater value. Very large. Rare land there is a Monasit," Prabowo continued.

Moreover, he continued, in the global market the price of monasit reaches hundreds of thousands of dollars per ton, even reaching 200,000 US dollars.

"We can imagine the state losses of these 6 companies alone, the total state losses could reach Rp300 trillion," Prabowo said.