Indonesian government’s takeover of goldmine and dam in Sumatra must put nature first
Recent media reports indicate that the Martabe gold mine in Batang Toru, Sumatra, owned by PT Agincourt Resources, will be taken over by Indonesia’s National Mineral Company (Perminas). Other projects in the region, including the Batang Toru dam, are also slated to be handed over to state-owned companies.
The government initially revoked goldmine and hydropower dam licenses in Sumatra after catastrophic floods and landslides — likely exacerbated by the ongoing deforestation in the region — killed more than 1,100 people in late 2025. The revocations come after the government announced legal action against six companies, including PT North Sumatera Hydro Energy, Chinese state-owned operators of the Batang Toru hydropower dam; and PT Agincourt Resources, owners of the Martabe gold mine and a subsidiary of global conglomerate Jardine Matheson.
President Prabowo has recognized the urgent need to protect nature in one of the world’s most vulnerable regions. He recently delivered powerful remarks at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, saying: “We want to be a good neighbor, a good responsible citizen of the world, protecting the environment, protecting nature. We must not destroy nature, we must live with nature.”
Mighty Earth urges President Prabowo to translate his pledge into real protections for Indonesia’s wildlife and ecosystems.
Amanda Hurowitz, Senior Director, Forest Commodities at Mighty Earth, said:
“We appreciate President Prabowo’s speech at Davos and his stated commitment to forest protection. This action is an opportunity for the Indonesian government to support President Prabowo’s vision by itself ensuring zero deforestation and ecological restoration in these properties and protecting Sumatrans from future natural disasters.
“The Indonesian government’s takeover of the Martabe gold mine and the Batang Toru dam must not come at the cost of local communities, Indonesia’s natural treasures, or wildlife – including the world’s rarest great ape, the Tapanuli orangutan, numbering fewer than 800 in the one place it calls home.
“By handing these projects to Indonesian state-owned companies, the government is now taking responsibility for the future of this landscape. This vital ecosystem and the communities and wildlife that depend upon it need protection and restoration, not further destruction under a different ownership structure.
“We are cautiously hopeful that the Prabowo administration will not repeat the mistakes of the previous owners of these properties by destroying endangered orangutan habitat or making these landscapes vulnerable to floods.
“We must hold President Prabowo to his repeated promises to put nature first. Now the government can turn these words into immediate action to avoid future tragedies in Batang Toru: halt operations in sensitive areas like forests and steep hillsides, adopt clear conservation safeguards, and begin restoration to prevent further loss of life and secure a future for the Tapanuli orangutan.“
Ends
For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Amanda Hurowitz, Senior Director, Forest Commodities at Mighty Earth
[email protected]
Carole Mitchell, Global Director of Communications (based in the UK)
[email protected]
+44 7917 105000
Sydney Jones, Press Secretary (based in Washington D.C.)
[email protected]
+1 561 809 5522
Notes to editors:
- On December 6, 2025, the Indonesian Ministry of Environment suspended operations of companies responsible for deforestation in the Batang Toru River Basin in North Sumatra. Citing the hundreds of lives lost and extensive damage caused by rainfall, landslides, and catastrophic flooding – worsened by local deforestation and irresponsible development – the government announced that companies in the region must halt operations and would be subject to environmental audits.
- Mighty Earth statement (7 December 2025): Indonesia Moves to Protect Batang Toru
- In January 2026, Indonesia revoked permits of 28 companies linked to deforestation, including those of North Sumatra Hydro Energy (NSHE) and Agincourt gold mine, a subsidiary of conglomerate Jardine Matheson. Both have been the focus of Mighty Earth and local allies’ campaigns for many years for their deforestation and threats to the survival of the Tapanuli orangutan, the world’s rarest great ape, with fewer than 800 individuals living in an area the size of Los Angeles.
- Mighty Earth statement (20 January 2026): Government revokes goldmine and hydropower dam licenses in Sumatra after deadly floods
About Mighty Earth
Mighty Earth is a global advocacy organization working to defend a living planet. Our goal is to protect half of Earth for Nature and secure a climate that allows life to flourish. We are obsessed with impact and aspire to be the most effective environmental advocacy organization in the world. Our team has achieved transformative change by persuading leading industries to dramatically reduce deforestation and climate pollution throughout their global supply chains in palm oil, rubber, cocoa, and animal feed, while improving livelihoods for Indigenous and local communities across the tropics.
