“Any mining activity that has any impact on the environment must be prepared. We will evaluate it, including mines and others,” said ESDM Ministry spokesperson Dwi Anggia, speaking from Jakarta on Monday.
Anggia explained that the review will target mines linked to ecosystem damage, while the ministry’s immediate focus remains on restoring flood-affected areas and ensuring energy supply for recovery efforts.
Critics argue that mining has long placed Sumatra at risk.
Melky Nahar, Coordinator of the Mining Advocacy Network, said the island has been treated as a “sacrifice zone” for mineral and coal extraction.
He noted that there are 1,907 active mining permits covering more than 2.4 million hectares, including 271 permits under the Forest Area Use Approval (PPKH) scheme.
“At the forest area level, the PPKH scheme is the main gateway for transferring protected areas to extraction areas,” Nahar said.
Among the permit holders is PT Agincourt Resources (PTAR), operator of the Martabe gold mine in the Batang Toru Ecosystem.
Land clearing in forest areas has raised concerns about watershed damage.
PTAR, however, rejected claims linking its operations to the disaster.
“The flash flood in Garoga Village is located in the Garoga/Aek Ngadil Watershed, which is separate from and not connected to the Aek Pahu Watershed, where PTAR operates,” said PTAR’s Senior Manager of Corporate Communications Katarina Siburian Hardono.
“Our monitoring also found no wood materials in the Aek Pahu Watershed that could be linked to the findings in the flooded area,” she added.
“PTAR fully supports the government’s comprehensive study of all the contributing factors to this disaster and is ready to cooperate transparently.”
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Translator: Putu Indah Savitri, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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