Indonesia flags illegal gold mining output at 120 tonnes a year

Jakarta, Jan 30, 2026 – Indonesia Mining Institute estimates that around 120 tonnes of gold a year are produced from illegal mining activities in Indonesia, nearly approaching the country’s legal gold output of about 160 tonnes annually.

IMI chairman Irwandy Arif said most unlicensed mining activities in Indonesia are concentrated in gold, citing data from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. Indonesia has recorded about 1,221 locations of illegal gold mining nationwide, he said.

Separately, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry said it is coordinating with PPATK, Indonesia’s financial intelligence agency responsible for tracking suspicious financial transactions, over alleged illegal gold mining activities.

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Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Yuliot Tanjung said authorities are tracing complex layers of financial transactions linked to unlicensed mining. PPATK data show that during 2023–2025, transactions suspected to be linked to illegal mining totaled Rp185.03 trillion (about USD 11.6 billion), with overall fund turnover of Rp992 trillion (about USD 62 billion).

PPATK data show that during 2023–2025, transactions suspected to be linked to illegal mining totaled Rp185.03 trillion (about USD 11.6 billion), with overall fund turnover of Rp992 trillion (about USD 62 billion).

Editing by Alexander Ginting