Jakarta. The Energy and Mineral Resources  Ministry (ESDM) has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all mining companies in Indonesia comply with environmental regulations. This strict oversight is part of the government's efforts to achieve its net zero emission (NZE) target.

According to the Secretary of the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal, Siti Sumilah Rita Susilawati, the ministry has taken concrete steps toward this goal. One of the key measures is the implementation of Ministerial Regulation No. 26 of 2018 on the Application of Good Mining Practices and Supervision of Mineral and Coal Mining.

“Greener mining practices are anchored in regulations that uphold the principles of good mining practice, one of which is outlined in Ministerial Regulation No. 26/2018,” Siti said on Tuesday.

Additionally, Ministerial Decree No. 1827 K/30/MEM/2018 provides technical guidelines on good mining practices, encompassing environmental management, land reclamation, energy conservation, and fuel efficiency.

Further regulatory support is provided by Ministerial Regulation No. 7 of 2020, later amended by Ministerial Regulation No. 16 of 2021, which governs the planning and implementation of reclamation and post-mining activities through reclamation and post-mining guarantee mechanisms.

Through these regulations, mining companies are required to integrate environmental considerations into the early planning stages of mining operations, including within their Work Plan and Budget (RKAB) submissions.

Previously, Siti stated that the mining sector remains one of the significant contributors to national carbon emissions. This is evident from the considerable carbon footprint associated with mining operations.

She pointed to several key factors behind this, such as land clearing, high energy consumption, and the use of non-environmentally friendly operational vehicles.

“We acknowledge that the mining sector, particularly during operational phases, still has a significant carbon footprint. This includes land clearing activities, the use of fossil-fuel-based heavy equipment, and other energy-intensive processes,” Siti explained.

In line with Indonesia’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 or sooner, the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal is actively pushing for a low-emission transformation of the mining sector, while maintaining competitiveness.