UNTR says Agincourt will defend rights in Environment Ministry lawsuit

By Romel S. Gurky

PT United Tractors Tbk (IDX: UNTR) said it has instructed its subsidiary PT Agincourt Resources to proceed with legal action and safeguard its rights in response to a civil lawsuit filed by the Environment Ministry over alleged environmental damage at the Martabe gold mine in North Sumatra

In a disclosure to the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), United Tractors said it had asked Agincourt to “carry out the judicial process and continue to protect its rights in accordance with applicable regulations,” addressing questions from the bourse following media reports on the case.

The clarification follows a lawsuit filed by the Ministry of Environment and Environmental Control Agency (KLH) at the South Jakarta District Court, seeking Rp200.99 billion (about US$13 million) in compensation from Agincourt under a strict liability claim related to alleged environmental damage.

United Tractors said Agincourt received the lawsuit on Jan. 23, 2026, and attended its first court hearing on Feb. 3. The next stage of proceedings will involve court-mandated mediation between KLH and Agincourt, the company said.

The company said it has not yet made any provisions related to potential compensation, citing the ongoing legal process. However, Agincourt has already booked provisions for mine reclamation and post-mining obligations in line with PSAK 237 accounting standards, with related guarantees validated by relevant ministries.

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United Tractors said it considers the Rp200.99 billion claim immaterial to the group’s financial position and operations, adding that the lawsuit does not pose a risk to its business continuity. Management has not yet assessed the legal risks in detail, given that court proceedings are still under way.

The IDX inquiry also sought clarification on reports that management of the Martabe mine could be transferred to a newly formed state-owned entity, Perusahaan Mineral Nasional (Perminas), following the revocation of Agincourt’s operating licence late last year. United Tractors said it was not in a position to comment on Perminas’ plans and added that, based on information from Agincourt, the subsidiary has not received any official notice regarding a potential transfer of the mine.

On operational matters, United Tractors said there has been no further development regarding Agincourt’s operating permits beyond what was previously disclosed. Agincourt has suspended operations since Dec. 6, 2025, as part of recovery efforts following natural disasters in North Sumatra.

United Tractors said it has not made additional public disclosures related to the lawsuit or the potential mine transfer, arguing that the issues do not constitute material information under IDX and Financial Services Authority (OJK) regulations.

Agincourt operates the Martabe gold mine in South Tapanuli, North Sumatra, and is a subsidiary of United Tractors, which is part of the Astra Group.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak