The Ministry of Environment (KLH) has won a lawsuit against two nickel mining companies operating in North Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi, with the court ordering the companies to pay Rp47.9 billion in compensation for ecological and economic damages.
“This lawsuit reflects the government's commitment to combating environmental violations. It is a concrete step toward upholding the public’s right to a proper, clean, and healthy environment,” said Dodi Kurniawan, Director of Environmental Dispute Settlement and Legal Counsel to the Minister of Environment/Head of the Environmental Control Agency (BPLH), on Wednesday in Jakarta, as reported by Antara.
A major milestone in environmental law enforcement was reached on June 5, 2025, when the Jakarta High Court partially granted KLH/BPLH’s appeal against PT James & Armando Pundimas (PT JAP) and PT Bhima Amarta Mining (PT BAM). The court ordered both companies to pay a total of Rp47,972,808,539 for ecological and economic losses.
The case began in 2021, when illegal mining operations involving heavy machinery were discovered within a production forest in Lamondowo Village, Andowia District, North Konawe. PT JAP and PT BAM were found to have been operating without valid permits in protected forest areas.
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Legal proceedings began in 2022 when the director of PT JAP was convicted in the Kendari District Court for illegally occupying forest land. Based on that verdict, KLH/BPLH filed a civil lawsuit against both companies in the Central Jakarta District Court on December 29, 2023. However, the court rejected the lawsuit in a ruling issued on February 21, 2025 (Decision No. 8/PDT.G/LH/2024/PN Jkt.Pst).
KLH/BPLH then appealed to the Jakarta High Court. The appellate panel, chaired by Ida Bagus Dwi Yantara with members Nelson Pasaribu and Multining Dyah Ely Mariani, overturned the lower court’s ruling and partially granted the appeal. PT JAP and PT BAM were found liable for environmental pollution and damage covering 2.8 hectares.
“This legal victory marks a significant moment in holding extractive industries accountable for environmental damage,” Dodi said.
KLH Deputy for Environmental Law Enforcement, Rizal Irawan, also emphasized the broader implications of the ruling.
“This decision proves that the law can stand for the environment. It sends a clear message to business actors that they can no longer ignore the ecological consequences of their activities. KLH and BPLH will continue pursuing both preventive and enforcement measures against environmental degradation across Indonesia,” he stated.
Rizal also noted that the ruling sets an important precedent and reinforces the government’s commitment to ecological justice and legal enforcement in environmental protection.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak
