KPK urges Antam to exercise caution in buying community miners’ output

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has reminded state-owned mining firm PT Aneka Tambang (Persero) Tbk (Antam) to exercise caution in executing its strategic plan to purchase output from small-scale community miners.

KPK Chairman Setyo Budiyanto said Antam must proceed carefully, noting that based on the anti-graft body’s findings in several regions, small-scale mining areas are still controlled by certain groups, potentially creating economic injustice for local communities.

“This must be taken seriously to avoid causing harm or being exploited for the interests of a few parties,” Setyo said in a statement on Friday.

He added that Antam’s plan to enter the small-scale mining sector must be accompanied by strict risk mitigation measures.

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Moreover, he noted that the KPK believes every business decision made by state-owned enterprises (SOEs) must be safeguarded with strong governance to prevent irregularities, particularly given the complexity of the mining industry.

Setyo also stressed that Antam must ensure its operations are not solely profit-oriented but also deliver sustainable social, economic and environmental benefits.

Meanwhile, Antam President Director Untung Budiharto acknowledged that the company’s ongoing transformation faces challenges ranging from macroeconomic pressures and geopolitical dynamics to increasingly complex regulations.

Untung said Antam has engaged the KPK to strengthen legal risk mitigation amid intensifying global market competition through a series of improvement recommendations.

According to him, collaboration with the KPK is essential to ensure that every business decision aligns with prudence principles and the public interest.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak