6 Million Tons of Gold Still Buried in the Soil of Pohuwato, Indonesia

As time went on, from 1994 to 2002, the suspension of exploitation permits occurred, meaning our miners were more compliant with the administration to avoid accusations of theft.

Finally, in 2009, they defended themselves by obtaining a Mining Business Permit (IUP). At that time, the youngest farmer's children began to be forgotten, and their lives were abandoned.

Over time, Mount Pani became the exploration target of several investors, both domestic and foreign. In 2009, the Darma Tani Cooperative (KUD) collaborated with One Asia Resources and PT J Resources Asia Pasifik Tbk.

However, in 2013, this collaboration was unilaterally terminated, leading to a lawsuit that went to the Constitutional Court.

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After a long struggle, the Dharma Tani Cooperative entered into a partnership with PT Merdeka Copper Gold, a subsidiary of PT. Puncak Emas Gorontalo (PEG) on December 24, 2014.

As a result of this collaboration, the two parties agreed to establish PT. Puncak Emas Tani Sejahtera (PETS).

The collaboration between KUD Dharma Tani and PT. PEG was deemed invalid and inconsistent with Article 38 paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of Deed Number 98, which stated that Defendant VIII (the late Abdul Kadir Akib)'s actions in signing the collaboration with PEG were not fully known to the cooperative's members, supervisory board, and management, and did not undergo internal discussions in accordance with KUD Dharma Tani's organizational provisions as stipulated in the KUD's Articles of Association.

Amidst the ongoing legal dispute in court, on September 4, 2015, the Governor of Gorontalo issued Decree No. 351/17/IX/2015, concerning the Transfer of a Gold Production Operation Mining Business Permit from the Dharma Tani Cooperative to PT PETS.

Prior to the permit's issuance on April 29, 2019, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry issued Decree No. SK.310/MENLHK/SETJEN/PLA.0/4/2019, approving a Forest Area Borrow-to-Use Permit for gold production operations and supporting facilities in a limited production forest area in Pohuwato Regency, covering approximately 93.90 hectares.

Due to the frequent problems and even violent demonstrations, the Pohuwato Regency Government (Pemkab) has attempted to improve regional governance, which has become a target for miners.

They legalized illegal mining (PETI) and encouraged them to meet the requirements and conditions mandated by Article 38 of Law Number 4 of 2009 concerning Minerals and Coal.

In 2011, the Regent of Pohuwato, Syarif Mbuinga, took steps to facilitate and encourage PETI to meet the criteria for obtaining legal guarantees.

The Regional Government (Pemda) sought to accommodate the interests of artisanal miners by obtaining Mining Business Permits. To this end, the Regent and members of the Regional Leadership Council (Muspida) were willing to engage in dialogue and deliberation with the artisanal miners.

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