Government to announce decision on Martabe mine permit next week

By Calvin Purba

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said it will announce next week its decision on the proposed revocation of PT Agincourt Resources’ mining business license for the Martabe Gold Mine in North Sumatra.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said he has coordinated with the Environment Ministry and requested additional time to finalize the review. The case involves the company’s contract of work, environmental permit known as AMDAL, and its forest area use permit.

 “There are two permits involved: the mining contract of work and the environmental permit. I have conducted technical coordination with the Minister of Environment, Mr. Hanif. Give us one to two days; once everything is clear, we will announce it,” Bahlil said on the sidelines of the Indonesia Economic Outlook on Friday.

Bahlil said there has been no administrative follow up on the earlier announcement of revocation, as the ministry is still reviewing whether violations occurred. If the review finds no significant breaches, the permit will be returned to the company, he said. If violations are confirmed, sanctions will be imposed.

Read also: Danantara steps back from Martabe mine takeover

On Jan. 20, the government announced the revocation of 28 business licenses in the forestry, plantation and mining sectors in Sumatra, citing recommendations from a forest area enforcement task force. Authorities alleged the companies had breached forest utilization rules in areas affected by hydrometeorological disasters that contributed to deadly floods in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra late last year. Agincourt’s permit was among those listed.

Following the announcement, sovereign wealth fund Danantara said it planned to transfer management of the Martabe mine to a newly established subsidiary, Perusahaan Mineral Nasional, or Perminas.

This week, Investment and Downstreaming Minister and Head of the Investment Coordinating Board Rosan Perkasa Roeslani said the government has completed an inter ministerial review of Agincourt’s case and submitted the results to President Prabowo Subianto for a final decision.

Rosan said the evaluation covered legal, technical and operational aspects, as well as the company’s future plans, and included direct engagement with Agincourt’s management.

Separately, Danantara Chief Operating Officer Dony Oskaria said the fund does not plan to acquire PT Agincourt Resources or take over the Martabe mine. “We are not acquiring the Martabe mine. Any follow up actions are entirely within the government’s domain,” he said at the CNBC Indonesia Economic Outlook 2026 event on Feb. 10.

Editing by Alexander Ginting