Permit Expires, PT BDL Is Still Carrying Out Mining Activities

Ilustrasi (Foto: Craig Clark from Pixabay)

JAKARTA - PT Bulawan Daya Lestari (BDL) is apparently still conducting gold mining operations in Bolaang Mongodow Regency, North Sulawesi. Even though the company's mining permit has expired since March 10, 2019.

The production operation mining business license (IUP-OP) issued by governor-class officials is still in the process of applying for an extension. Likewise, the lease-to-use forest area permit (IPPKH) is still in process.

So that mining activities carried out by PT BDL do not have a legal umbrella. Even this activity can be called illegal mining.

PT BDL's mining activities were known from amateur videos uploaded on social media. In the video, you can see workers using heavy equipment. The video was shared by Alex Subrata on Twitter social media on Sunday (12/7/2020).

The video, which is also equipped with location coordinates of 0 ° 42'26.31 "N 124 ° 12'42.858" E, when checked using Google Maps, is known to be in Lolayan District, Bolaang Mongondow (Bolmong) Regency, North Sulawesi Province.

Based on Google's satellite imagery, at the location according to these coordinates, it is clear that there is extensive dredging.

Previously, BDL President Director Hadi Pandunata claimed that the company had stopped mining activities because the permit had expired. Until now, his party is still processing permits. The permit has yet to be issued.

"If the IUP-OP has been extended again, then mining activities will resume," said Hadi in his statement to the media, Monday (29/6/2020).

BDL is also in the process of extending the borrow-to-use forest area permit covering an area of 99.06 hectares from the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), whose validity period has expired since March 10, 2019.

"We also hope that this lease-to-use forest area permit can be approved by BKPM on behalf of the Indonesian Minister of Forestry," added Hadi.

Separately, the person who claimed to be a representative of PT BDL Yance Tanesia said that the activities carried out by the company had a legal umbrella. He rejects the company's activities as illegal mining.

Yance claims, PT BDL has a Production Operation Mining Business License (IUP OP) No. 100 of 2011 with a tenor of 10 years and is valid since its issuance May 23, 2011.

PT BDL has also processed the application for an IUP extension at PTSP with letter number 28 / BDL / EXT-VI / 2018. Then there was the IUP Data Reconciliation on February 21, 2019 between the North Sulawesi Provincial ESDM Office and the Director General of Mineral and Coal at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Jakarta.