Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung Islands. President Prabowo Subianto on Monday witnessed the official handover of six smelters and other confiscated state assets from illegal mining cases to state-owned tin producer Timah, marking a major step in the government’s effort to combat unlawful mineral extraction.

The ceremony took place at Tinindo Intinusa’s smelter on Ketapang Street in Pangkalpinang, where Prabowo emphasized the scale of the country’s losses from illegal mining.

“Illegal mining practices have caused state losses of up to Rp 300 trillion ($18 billion). All assets taken unlawfully must be returned to the state and used for the people’s welfare,” Prabowo said in his address.

The assets handed over included six smelters, 195 heavy machines, 22 land plots, and a workers’ dormitory, with a total estimated value of Rp 1.5 trillion ($90 million). These items were seized from private companies found guilty of operating without permits in areas owned by Timah, leading to extensive environmental degradation.

Prabowo said the move reflects the government’s determination to strengthen oversight and governance reforms in Indonesia’s mining sector.

“The government is committed to reinforcing supervision and reforming mining governance to ensure greater transparency and fairness,” he said.

The President personally inspected the seized facilities, which had undergone a complete legal transfer process. During the event, Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin symbolically handed the recovered assets to the Ministry of Finance, which then transferred them to Timah.

Following the handover, Prabowo and his delegation -- including members of the Forest Area Enforcement Task Force (Satgas PKH) and other senior officials --visited PT Timah’s headquarters to review ongoing restoration and compliance initiatives.

In his closing remarks, Prabowo underscored the importance of transparent and equitable natural resource management, urging stronger inter-agency cooperation to safeguard Indonesia’s economic sovereignty.