According to him, such practices are causing the state to lose tens of trillions of rupiah.
Prabowo addressed that the operation to close illegal tin mining and the smuggling routes would save the state up to Rp22 trillion (US$1.2 billion) in potential losses between September and December 2025, and even Rp45 trillion (US$2.6 billion) by 2026.
"Bangka Belitung has become a center for tin mining in the world. There are one thousand illegal mines in the region. Starting September 1, I ordered related parties to conduct a large-scale operation in Bangka Belitung, shutting down nearly 80 percent of the smuggled tin," he conveyed in Jakarta on Monday.
He explained that smugglers have been using various tactics to transport tin from illegal mines outside Bangka and Belitung Islands, including using small boats and passenger ships like ferries.
"Now it is closed, no one can get out, even boats cannot get out," Prabowo emphasized.
He then highlighted the potential of rare earth minerals contained in tin mining waste in Bangka Belitung.
"What's more concerning is that the waste has very high value because it contains a rare earth mineral. They may not know it, they think it is a waste when actually it is a rare earth mineral," he continued.
Therefore, the president ordered Customs and Excise to recruit chemists to identify the rare earth content in waste material from former tin mines.
"I am ordering Customs and Excise to recruit several chemists to conduct inspections. The sand might be worth extraordinary value. The same case occurs in other sectors: nickel, coal, and bauxite. I am ordering these to be immediately regulated, to clean up the illegal mines, or for the state to take them over," he pointed out.
He then expressed optimism that the illegal mine cleanup can prevent state financial leaks, thereby increasing state revenues.
"If we clean this up, state revenues will be much greater, and we will close the leaks, so the country will prosper," Prabowo stated.
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Translator: Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
