After inspecting illegal mining activities in Bangka Belitung, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources recently stated that all quartz sand mining permits will be taken back under central government control. Previously, a special task force discovered illegal mining operations in Bangka Belitung, estimated to have caused state losses of IDR 12.9 trillion. Originally, mining permits for quartz sand, minerals, and coal were managed by the central government.
However, in 2022, former President Joko Widodo issued Presidential Regulation No. 55 of 2022, which delegated the authority to approve mining permits for minerals including quartz sand to local governments. In Lubuk Besung and Lubuk Cincuk Villages in Central Bangka, specifically in Lubuk Besar District, the task force found an illegal mining area covering 315.48 hectares. During enforcement operations, the task force confiscated 21 excavators, 2 bulldozers, 1 generator, and 10 sand suction machines. Additionally, at 4 other illegal mining sites in Bangka covering a total of 102.37 hectares, they seized 27 excavators and 3 sand suction machines. The state losses caused by these illegal mining activities are currently being calculated.
This illegal mining incident prompted him to decide to take back the authority to approve quartz sand mining permits in order to strengthen supervision and prevent damage to national interests.
After inspecting illegal mining activities in Bangka Belitung, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources recently stated that all quartz sand mining permits will be taken back under central government control. Previously, a special task force discovered illegal mining operations in Bangka Belitung, estimated to have caused state losses of IDR 12.9 trillion. Originally, mining permits for quartz sand, minerals, and coal were managed by the central government.
However, in 2022, former President Joko Widodo issued Presidential Regulation No. 55 of 2022, which delegated the authority to approve mining permits for minerals including quartz sand to local governments. In Lubuk Besung and Lubuk Cincuk Villages in Central Bangka, specifically in Lubuk Besar District, the task force found an illegal mining area covering 315.48 hectares. During enforcement operations, the task force confiscated 21 excavators, 2 bulldozers, 1 generator, and 10 sand suction machines. Additionally, at 4 other illegal mining sites in Bangka covering a total of 102.37 hectares, they seized 27 excavators and 3 sand suction machines. The state losses caused by these illegal mining activities are currently being calculated.
This illegal mining incident prompted him to decide to take back the authority to approve quartz sand mining permits in order to strengthen supervision and prevent damage to national interests.