RRI.CO.ID, Batam – The discovery of illegal sand mining operations within the flight safety zone of Hang Nadim International Airport in Batam, Riau Islands Province has left authorities in Batam with a daunting restoration task. The incident has also sparked a renewed determination among officials to ensure such violations are never repeated.

As reported by Antara, the Batam Business Authority (BP Batam) is now in the midst of an environmental recovery effort at the former illegal mining site, which falls within the Airport Flight Safety Zone (KKOP) of Hang Nadim International Airport, Riau Islands. The total area requiring restoration spans an estimated 100,000 square meters, with a fill volume of approximately 347,000 cubic meters.

BP Batam Member and Deputy for Public Services, Ariastuty Sirait, confirmed that the process of closing former excavation pits, many of which are in a deeply alarming condition, is currently underway.

"The process of closing the former excavation sites is ongoing. Progress has reached 30 percent so far, and reforestation will be carried out going forward," she said in an official statement received in Batam on Monday, May 11, 2026.

Through this focused intervention, authorities hope to restore an environment that has long suffered from exploitation, while simultaneously strengthening the operational safety of flights in and out of Hang Nadim.

Ariastuty underscored the strategic importance of the KKOP, describing it as a vital asset that underpins logistical and passenger connectivity and plays a significant role in driving economic growth in Batam. Securing the zone, she stressed, is therefore critical not only for aviation safety but also for protecting state assets from potential disruption.

"This KKOP area must continue to be safeguarded collectively going forward. No activities of any kind should take place there. Anyone found to be disrupting flight operations will be dealt with firmly in accordance with applicable regulations," she said.

The illegal mining operation was first uncovered in April, when BP Batam Deputy, Li Claudia Chandra, led a team to the site to crack down on the unauthorized activity. In response, cross-sectoral coordination was subsequently undertaken as part of a comprehensive remediation effort, culminating in the establishment of a dedicated KKOP Security Task Force at Hang Nadim Airport.

"Surveillance of the KKOP area will continue to be intensified, including through routine joint patrols comprising elements of the Indonesian Military, National Police, BP Batam's Security Directorate, and the Batam City Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP)," Ariastuty concluded. ***