The Indonesian government is moving forward with the preparation of community mining permit regulations to promote legal, safe, and sustainable mining practices across several regions. Member of the House of Representatives Andre Rosiade stated that President Prabowo Subianto has prioritized accelerating the issuance of Community Mining Permits (IPR), enabling local communities to legally manage mining activities while reducing the prevalence of illegal operations. The initiative is designed to strengthen governance, ensure environmental responsibility, and empower local miners through formal mechanisms.
Under the planned framework, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will coordinate with the House of Representatives to determine Mining Areas, followed by the designation of Community Mining Areas. Regional governments will then prepare management and environmental documents, after which governors will be authorized to issue permits. Through this scheme, cooperatives may manage up to 10 hectares, while individual miners can operate up to five hectares. Meanwhile, the West Sumatra provincial government has identified several locations with illegal mining activities and is coordinating preventive and enforcement measures, emphasizing that the policy aims to protect communities, the environment, and long-term economic sustainability.
