Background and Enforcement Measures
On October 3, 2025, Indonesia intensified its nationwide crackdown on illegal tin mining, leading to widespread protests among artisanal miners in Bangka Belitung and West Kalimantan, the country’s main tin-producing regions. The coordinated enforcement, launched by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in collaboration with the National Police and the Attorney General’s Office, has resulted in the closure of more than 200 unlicensed mining sites, confiscation of dredging equipment, and suspension of multiple smelting operations. Authorities argue that the operation aims to curb tax evasion, environmental degradation, and export smuggling that have long plagued Indonesia’s lucrative tin sector.
Social Backlash and Livelihood Concerns
The clampdown has provoked large-scale demonstrations by small-scale miners, who claim that the enforcement campaign threatens their livelihoods and economic survival. Protesters in Pangkalpinang and Sungailiat demanded legal recognition and permits that would allow them to operate within a regulated framework rather than being criminalized. Local civil society groups echoed these calls, warning that abrupt closures without social protection measures could deepen poverty and inequality in mining-dependent communities. Meanwhile, reports of excessive force during some raids have fueled tensions, drawing criticism from human-rights observers who are calling for dialogue and formalization pathways instead of punitive-only approaches.
Governance Challenges and Environmental Implications
The situation highlights Indonesia’s governance dilemma: balancing environmental rehabilitation with social and economic realities in regions dependent on informal mining. The government’s crackdown follows years of international scrutiny over deforestation, coastal damage, and pollution linked to illegal tin extraction, which supplies global electronics and automotive industries. Analysts note that the unrest exposes weaknesses in licensing transparency and benefit-sharing mechanisms, as local communities see little return from formal sector revenues. The ongoing protests underscore that without inclusive regulation and local participation, environmental enforcement alone risks undermining the social license to operate (LTO) in one of the world’s most critical mineral supply chains.