New MEMR law enforcement unit handled 29 mining disputes in 2025

By Adianto P. Simamora

The newly established Directorate General of Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) has handled 29 dispute resolution and administrative sanction cases in the mineral and coal sector in 2025, as part of efforts to strengthen oversight of the country’s mining industry.

Rilke Jeffri Huwae, Director General of Law Enforcement at MEMR, said during a mining outlook conference in Jakarta on Wednesday that the cases included nine disputes between business entities, five involving businesses and communities, and six between businesses and the government.

He said mining cases accounted for 69% of criminal law enforcement actions in the energy and resources sector, while oil and gas cases made up the remaining 31%.

The ministry also reported 52% progress in the management of assets and evidence, including laboratory testing, supervision activities, and the safeguarding of mineral and coal stockpiles linked to law enforcement cases.

He said that the government is preparing to auction seized tin sand totaling around 47,846 kilograms with a tin grade of 75.32%, currently stored at the Cambai Tin Ore Warehouse in Central Bangka, Bangka Belitung.

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“The item to be auctioned is tin sand weighing approximately 47,846 kilograms with a tin grade of 75.32%,” Huwae said.

He said that the office is also overseeing the management of state-controlled bauxite stockpiles totaling about 629,842 tons in Tanjung Pinang and Bintan, Riau Islands, which are scheduled for a second auction after verification of their quality, quantity and valuation is completed.

In addition, he said the office has secured coal stockpiles of around 70,000 tons and 54,000 tons in Kutai Kartanegara and Samarinda, East Kalimantan, as part of ongoing investigations into mining-related violations.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak