Business · Energy & Commodities · 16 hrs ago
Indonesia Closes 275-Hectare Gold Mine in Papua Tengah
Indonesia’s Forest Area Order Task Force closed a 275.36-hectare gold mine on Thursday, 22 October.
The mine is in Makimi district, Nabire regency, in Papua Tengah, and belonged to PT Kristalin Ekalestari.
The company’s mining permit was revoked under a decision dated 12 October 2026.
The action was carried out under a 2025 presidential regulation, and the site is now under state control.
Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin said state-owned Antam will manage the mine as both investor and operator.
The government says this arrangement is intended to ensure the mine is run for public benefit, but no start date for Antam’s operations was given.
Indonesia’s Forest Area Enforcement Task Force closed a 275.36-hectare gold mine in Makimi District, Nabire, Papua Tengah.
The mine belonged to PT Kristalin Ekalestari, also rendered PT Kristalin Eka Lestari in one report.
The task force said the site was taken under state control and the company’s mining permit was revoked.
Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin said state-owned PT Antam would manage the mine as both investor and operator.
- Who
- Indonesia’s Forest Area Enforcement Task Force closed the mine. The site belonged to PT Kristalin Ekalestari.
- What
- A 275.36-hectare gold mine was closed and taken under state control, and its mining permit was revoked.
- When
- The closure took place on October 22, 2026.
- Where
- Makimi District, Nabire, Papua Tengah, Indonesia.
- Why
- The action targeted illegal mining in a forest area and was carried out under Presidential Regulation No. 5 of 2025.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The mining permit was revoked by a decision of the Minister of Investment and Downstreaming and head of BKPM.
The task force closed the mine in Nabire.
Reports quoted officials saying PT Antam would manage the site.
- Area
- 275.36 hectares
- Location
- Makimi District, Nabire, Papua Tengah
- Company
- PT Kristalin Ekalestari; reported as PT Kristalin Eka Lestari by CNN Indonesia
- Permit decision
- No. 20261012-01-0001, dated October 12, 2026
- Future operator
- PT Antam
6 sources
Pemerintah Cabut Izin Tambang Emas PT Kristalin Ekalestari di Papua
Tambang Emas 275 Hektare Disita Negara!
Haris Azhar Respons Satgas PKH Tertibkan Tambang di Papua Tengah
What people are saying
We remain committed to carrying out the task force’s duties. We are aware that there is a lot of resistance, but with national unity based on Presidential Regulation No. 5 of 2025, God willing, we will resolve everything.
We will hand this mine over to a state-owned company, in this case PT Antam. We hope PT Antam will be not only an investor but also an operator, so that it is truly managed by the state for the prosperity of the people.