Ministry suspends WHW alumina terminal operations over permit issue

The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries has temporarily suspended operations at a special terminal owned by alumina smelter PT Well Harvest Winning Alumina in Ketapang, West Kalimantan, over alleged permit violations related to marine spatial use.

The ministry’s Director General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance Pung Nugroho Saksono said authorities found indications that the terminal was operating without a marine spatial utilization conformity permit, known as PKKPRL.

“This permit is one of the important requirements for marine spatial utilization activities,” Pung said in a statement on Friday.

As part of enforcement measures, officials from the Pontianak marine and fisheries surveillance station installed special police lines around the terminal area under investigation.

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Authorities said the alleged violations involved three jetty locations with a combined marine utilization area of around 5,000 square meters.

The ministry said the action was part of administrative law enforcement efforts to ensure coastal and marine space utilization complies with regulations and environmental protection standards.

The government added that supervision of industrial activities involving private ports and jetties in coastal areas would be tightened, particularly for large-scale industrial operations.

The PKKPRL permit is required before companies can utilize marine areas for industrial and infrastructure activities, including ports and terminals.

Well Harvest Winning Alumina Refinery operates an alumina refinery in Kendawangan, Ketapang, and is one of Indonesia’s major bauxite processing companies.

Editing by Alexander Ginting