Jakarta, TAMBANG — The Regional Leadership Board (RLB) of the Riau Islands (Kepri) Branch of the State Asset Research Agency (BAPAN) submitted an official report to investigators at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. The report concerns alleged illegal bauxite mining practices in Sanggau Regency, West Kalimantan.

The report was filed following a series of field findings indicating unlicensed mining activities and the flow of mined products to several companies in the Riau Islands. Ahmad Iskandar Tanjung, representative of the Kepri RLB BAPAN, stated that this report is crucial to ensure fair and transparent law enforcement. “We are reporting this because these activities cause substantial state losses,” said Ahmad in Jakarta.

Ahmad noted that the bauxite mine in Sanggau is alleged to have operated without full licensing for a long time. Data from West Kalimantan shows mining activities are carried out by PT MKU and PT KBM. According to him, these two companies and the purchasing firm PT BAE in Bintan are under the same ownership: “All three are owned by an individual named Santoni.”

No reclamation guarantee data, post-mining evidence, or other technical requirements were found, violating mineral and coal mining regulations. The reported mine is in Sanggau Regency, West Kalimantan, while the alleged sales process of mined products takes place in Bintan Regency, Riau Islands.

Ahmad mentioned that field findings show mining activities are still ongoing as of early this week: “I went directly to Sanggau on Tuesday; the mine is still operational.” BAPAN’s findings indicate these activities have continued from 2008 to 2025 without severe punishment. “MEMR data shows no active licenses in recent years,” he said.

No mining investment records for the related companies exist from 2023 ...