Indonesia Needs a Roadmap to Green Mining

Until the first semester of this year, the level of compliance among mining companies in placing reclamation guarantees stands at around 70 percent. The dissemination of technology is believed to further enhance compliance among mining companies. To boost the success of mining reclamation, the government is encouraged to create a roadmap towards green mining.

"Technology dissemination is carried out from time to time through seminars, training, and mentoring. Mining companies often fail due to mistakes in land management, insufficient use of compost, and poor selection of species," said the Head of the Center for Mining Reclamation Studies (Reklatam) at IPB University, Irdika Mansur, when contacted on Thursday (18/9/2025).

From Tuesday (9/9/2025) to Friday (12/9/2025), the Reclamation Study Center of IPB University also held a Seminar and Mining Reclamation Technology Exhibition 2025 in commemoration of Mining and Energy Day as well as the 62nd Anniversary of IPB University. The exhibition showcased research results, innovations, and technologies from IPB University and its partners to support the success of reclamation efforts.

The technology introduced by IPB University includes the management of acid mine drainage using a constructed wetland system. Acid mine drainage remains a global mining issue because its impacts can extend far beyond the mining area and persist long after the mining operations have ceased.

The government has also mandated that companies manage this acid mine drainage. Companies tend to store the acid mine drainage in ponds to be neutralized with lime, and after neutralization, it is then released into public waters.

This method is very expensive and unsustainable, as lime must be applied daily as long as acid mine drainage is present. Neutralizing acid mine drainage in a series of ponds can cost up to Rp 1.2 billion per year.

Researchers from IPB University have introduced a passive management technique for acid mine drainage through artificial wetlands. This technique can naturally neutralize acid mine drainage at a very low cost and is sustainable in nature. This technology has also received legitimacy through the Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation Number 5 of 2022. Several companies have implemented this technique, such as PT Jorong Barutama Creston.

Before 1995, the success of mining reclamation was very low, and the trees that were planted were generally turi or pine. Between 1995 and 2000, the success of reclamation increased with the main tree species being sengon and Acacia mangium. From 2000 to 2009, trials were conducted to plant local tree species such as meranti, ulin, merbau, and ebony.

The Minister of Forestry Regulation P.60 of 2009 has mandated mining companies to plant local tree species on former mining sites. Since 2010, mining companies have begun utilizing former mining lands for essential oil crops, cocoa, as well as for raising cattle and fish. In 2018, the government issued the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Decision of 2018 number 1827 stating that reclamation outside forest areas can be used for housing, tourism, water reserves, and aquaculture.

"We, along with the Ministry of Forestry, are exploring the possibility of food crops and livestock in forest areas using agroforestry and silvopasture patterns. The next challenge is how to utilize former mining lands for food security, water, energy, and the enhancement of export commodities such as cocoa, coffee, and essential oils," added Irdika.

Green mine

Prof. Rizaldi Boer, Head of the International Research Institute for Environment and Climate Change at IPB University, emphasized the importance of mine reclamation in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He proposed the development of a roadmap toward green mining by 2050. To date, no such roadmap has been published that highlights the importance of reclamation for carbon sequestration.

This roadmap to green mining is increasingly important as greenhouse gas emissions accelerate. In 2011, carbon emissions reached 9.9 gigatons of carbon and have now risen to 13 gigatons. Restoring former mining areas through reforestation and reclamation is believed to increase carbon sequestration and support SDG 13 (climate action).

On the other hand, the global transition to renewable energy by 2050 will also trigger a surge in demand for strategic minerals. Strategic minerals (copper, nickel, lithium, rare earth) are essential for renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, and low-carbon infrastructure. The total mineral requirements for the energy transition are projected to increase by 200-900 percent in the electricity sector and 350-700 percent in the transportation sector from 2015 to 2050.

This requires resource management, technological innovations such as "green and climate-smart mining," and recycling policies to avoid supply risks and support decarbonization. Moreover, Indonesia is a major global supplier of critical minerals (nickel, bauxite, and limestone). "We need to consider strategies for moving towards green mining. And the target is 2050," Rizaldi added.

Currently, each mining company tends to face specific challenges when conducting post-mining land reclamation. PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI), for instance, faces challenges due to its extreme geographical environment. PTFI's mining operations are located in remote areas with challenging natural conditions and topography, starting from the Ertsberg mine (over 3500 meters above sea level) to the Grasberg mine (over 3800 meters above sea level).

The mining business license area of PTFI is located in mountainous land covering nearly 10,000 hectares. The mine in the Grasberg mineral area, Papua, is one of the largest copper and gold deposits in the world. The supporting area for PTFI's mining extends from the mountains to the coastline, reaching an area of approximately 116,783 hectares.

Operating in the remote highlands of the Sudirman Mountains, Mimika Regency, Papua, the area's ecosystem is dominated by the Alpine vegetation zone. "The Alpine vegetation zone is a zone of plants found in high mountain areas, above the tree line, where extreme environmental conditions mean only certain vegetation can survive," said Mauly Akbar Palembo, General Superintendent of PTFI's Technical Affairs Environmental Department.

The Alpine vegetation type consists of relatively short plants, dominated by moss and grass. In areas with an altitude of 3,800 to 4,300 meters above sea level, nighttime temperatures are very low (sometimes resulting in snowfall), with strong winds, high rainfall, and thin soil that is poor in nutrients. Planting in former mining areas is carried out in limestone planting media up to the slopes of overburden rock, with growth that tends to be slow.

The reclamation carried out by PTFI not only covers highland areas but also extends to coastal regions. Land formed from tailings sedimentation, for instance, is used for mangrove reclamation that began in 2005. The total area planted up to 2024 is 1,370 hectares. The target for mangrove planting per year since 2023 is 500 hectares.

Wildlife

As of 2024, the realization of reclamation by PTFI has reached an area of 572.43 hectares. Meanwhile, the cumulative area of land clearing for overburden in the mining area (excluding former mining pits) is approximately 1,134 hectares. The five-year reclamation plan of PTFI (2022-2026) covers an area of 187 hectares. "In the long term, until our business license expires in 2041, we also have plans and projections for reclamation up to 2041," added Mauly.

Environmental Manager of PT Vale Indonesia Tbk, Aris Prio Ambodo, added that Vale has been operating in Indonesia for 56 years and is committed to implementing sustainable mining practices. As of July 2025, the area of reclamation that has been carried out reaches 3,839 hectares, while the total area that has been opened is 5,991 hectares. Vale has planted more than 82,000 blackwood trees, totaling over 5.1 million trees.

The Mine Rehabilitation Head of PT Indominco Mandiri (IMM), Bayu Styawan, explained that the coal company is developing two arboretum areas, namely the Kanahuang Arboretum, which is a natural forest, and the 30 Gemilang Arboretum, located on reclaimed land. "We are building two arboretums because we want to compare the success of our reclamation efforts to see if it is in accordance with natural forests," said Bayu.

PT Indominco Mandiri is also establishing an underwater arboretum and conducting coral transplantation. In collaboration with the Bontang City Library, the company has also set up a mining literacy corner. Guests of PT IMM who wish to visit and learn about proper mining processes are also required to become members of the Bontang Library.

Not only does the rescue of local plants contribute to the reclamation of former mining land, but it also impacts the recovery of wildlife habitats. PT Kideco Jaya Agung, for instance, has a program for the conservation of the proboscis monkey and the siamang. "In the Wildlife Corridor established since 2016, we have the potential for 6 colonies of proboscis monkeys," said the Head of the Revegetation & Maintenance Unit at PT Kideco Jaya Agung, Aji Darmaji.

PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara is also involved in preserving local tree species in Nusa Tenggara on former mining land in Batu Hijau, Sumbawa Island. By the end of 2024, Amman has conducted reclamation on an area of 799.53 hectares. To add value for the community, the types of trees planted include candlenut and binong. The binong tree serves as a habitat for cockatoos.

Meanwhile, PT Kitadin Embalut in East Kalimantan promotes a reclamation concept based on food security and the local economy with areas for planting rice and corn. PT Arutmin Indonesia has chosen coal mining reclamation for oil palm plantations on an area of 530 hectares. Additionally, there is PT Pesona Khatulistiwa Nusantara, which cultivates cocoa on a former mining area of 88.12 hectares.

The Coordinator for Mineral and Coal Environmental Protection at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Horas Pasaribu, emphasized that reclamation is an activity carried out throughout the mining stages and does not have to wait until mining activities are completed. Every company that has obtained a mining business license is required to carry out reclamation and allocate reclamation guarantee funds.

According to data from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, by the end of the first semester of 2024, the national compliance rate for the placement of reclamation guarantees was only about 45 percent. However, this compliance rate increased to 70 percent in the first semester of 2025, partly due to the implementation of administrative sanctions for companies that violated regulations.

The Expert Staff of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources in the Field of Natural Resource Economics, Lana Saria, emphasized the importance of public involvement in the formulation of environmental documents and post-mining plans. According to Lana, reclamation is not merely an obligation, but it must be directed to support food security and restore biodiversity.

Source : https://www.kompas.id/artikel/en-reklamasi-didongkrak-indonesia-butuh-peta-jalan-menuju-tambang-hijau