President Prabowo prioritizes conservation in Raja Ampat: Minister

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto paid special attention to preserving Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua, as a protected national park and a world-renowned underwater tourism destination, Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Bahlil Lahadalia stated.

As a result, President Prabowo has decided that the government will revoke four mining permits in Raja Ampat, with one of the reasons being the protection of its ecological integrity.

“The first reason for the revocation is environmental. Based on the findings of the Environment Ministry, the permits have violated environmental regulations. Secondly, we have conducted field inspections and (found that) these areas must be protected, considering the presence of marine life,” he explained.

Moreover, several of the mining sites are located within a designated Geopark area. However, the licenses were granted before Raja Ampat was officially designated a UNESCO Global Geopark (UGG) on May 24, 2023.

The Raja Ampat Geopark covers four main islands in Raja Ampat District—Waigeo in the north (including the Wayag Islands at its northernmost point); Batanta Island; Salawati in the central part; and Misool in the south.

The Geopark area also includes the surrounding marine waters between the large and smaller islands.

Despite the revocation of the permits, Lahadalia clarified that no environmental damage had occurred as a result of mining activities by the four companies.

He pointed out that mining had not begun as the companies failed to obtain an approved work plan and budget (RKAB) from the ESDM Ministry.

“The four companies were not operational because they did not have RKABs. A company can only be declared operational if it has an approved RKAB," Lahadalia noted.