The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) confiscated 148.25 hectares of mining area belonging to PT Weda Bay Nickel (WBN) on Halmahera Island, North Maluku Province. Although the mining area holds a mining permit, it did not obtain a Forest Borrow-Use Permit (IPPKH); at the same time, 172.82 hectares of nickel mining area belonging to PT Tonia Mitra Sejahtera (2.93% of its total mining area) was also confiscated.
The company's shareholding structure is: China's Tsingshan Holding Group (51.3%), France's Eramet (37.8%), and Indonesia's state-owned enterprise Antam (10%). WBN holds mining rights over 45,065 hectares, and the confiscated land accounts for only 0.33%.
The Head of the ESDM Law Enforcement Bureau stated that this action is in compliance with the Minister of Energy's directive on cracking down on illegal mining. WBN's mining permit is valid until February 27, 2048, and PT TMS's permit until August 3, 2033.
This action demonstrates the Indonesian government's determination to strengthen compliance management of mineral resources, especially in strategic resource sectors such as nickel.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) confiscated 148.25 hectares of mining area belonging to PT Weda Bay Nickel (WBN) on Halmahera Island, North Maluku Province. Although the mining area holds a mining permit, it did not obtain a Forest Borrow-Use Permit (IPPKH); at the same time, 172.82 hectares of nickel mining area belonging to PT Tonia Mitra Sejahtera (2.93% of its total mining area) was also confiscated.
The company's shareholding structure is: China's Tsingshan Holding Group (51.3%), France's Eramet (37.8%), and Indonesia's state-owned enterprise Antam (10%). WBN holds mining rights over 45,065 hectares, and the confiscated land accounts for only 0.33%.
The Head of the ESDM Law Enforcement Bureau stated that this action is in compliance with the Minister of Energy's directive on cracking down on illegal mining. WBN's mining permit is valid until February 27, 2048, and PT TMS's permit until August 3, 2033.
This action demonstrates the Indonesian government's determination to strengthen compliance management of mineral resources, especially in strategic resource sectors such as nickel.