West sumatra plans to legalize 300 illegal mines in forested region, sparking environmental concerns

The Indonesian province of West Sumatra is moving forward with controversial plans to legalize up to 300 small-scale mines currently operating illegally in its heavily forested areas. Governor Mahyeldi Ansarullah announced the initiative as part of a broader effort to address the thousands of unlicensed mining operations across Indonesia, stating that “environmental damage brings long-term problems, therefore we can’t stay silent.”

The proposal would create new “community mining zones” (Wilayah Pertambangan Rakyat) for extracting commodities like gold and sand. While Indonesia has already approved 1,215 such zones across 19 provinces by 2024, the government has issued only a handful of actual operating permits, creating a significant gap between policy and practice. West Sumatra’s plan represents a notable shift from enforcement to accommodation of existing illegal operations.

This development comes at a critical time as Indonesia’s military-led forestry task force conducts a nationwide crackdown on unlicensed operations. The task force has already seized millions of hectares from illegal activities and plans to shift its focus from plantations to mining operations in 2026. West Sumatra initially supported crackdowns on illegal mining in 2025 but is now pivoting toward legalization as a solution.

Environmental groups are alarmed by the proposal, viewing it as potentially legitimizing destructive practices in ecologically sensitive forested areas. The plan awaits approval from Indonesia’s mining and energy ministry, which will determine whether this regulatory approach becomes a model for other provinces struggling with similar illegal mining challenges.