Minister Urges Consistent Remediation of Toxic Waste Sites in Riau

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - PT Pertamina Hulu Rokan (PHR), the upstream subsidiary of state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina, is remediating land contaminated with hazardous and toxic waste (B3) across its operational area in Riau. The government is overseeing the remediation of 250 sites, with 17 completed and dozens in various stages of progress.

Environment Minister Moh Jumhur Hidayat personally inspected remediation efforts in the Minas area and the Sultan Syarif Hasyim Grand Forest Park in Riau on Saturday, August 15, 2026. He urged PHR to fulfill all obligations related to the cleanup of crude oil‑contaminated land.

“PT Pertamina Hulu Rokan must continue remediating this oil‑contaminated land. I appreciate the work already done,” Minister Jumhur said in a statement received in Jakarta on Sunday, August 16, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Of the 250 sites under PHR’s responsibility, 220 are located in Siak Regency, 17 in Bengkalis Regency, six in Pekanbaru City, six in Rokan Hilir Regency, and one in Kampar Regency.

Most sites are situated within community‑owned oil palm plantations. Meanwhile, 42 sites are in ecologically sensitive areas, including nature conservation zones, nature reserves, and forest areas.

Government data show that remediation is progressing in several stages. Seventeen sites have completed remediation, and three others have received SSPLT Letters of Determination. Forty‑three sites are undergoing remediation, while 46 are awaiting approval for their RPFLH documents, with some requiring revisions.

A total of 141 sites remain in the land‑access acquisition phase, a prerequisite for carrying out physical remediation.

In total, sites where physical remediation has been completed or where RPFLH documents have been approved cover 1,206,568 square meters. The volume of contamination addressed amounts to 682,494 cubic meters, equivalent to approximately 1,031,633 tons.

Minister Jumhur emphasized that the Ministry of Environment (KLH) and the Environmental Management Agency (BPLH) will oversee every stage of crude oil‑contaminated land remediation within the Rokan working area.

This oversight prioritizes the precautionary principle and legal certainty, especially since some sites are located in areas with significant ecological functions.

The government also stressed that remediation must not be limited to administrative compliance but must effectively restore environmental functions and protect communities living near contaminated sites.

These measures aim to ensure the gradual remediation of land affected by hazardous and toxic waste (B3), while preventing pollution impacts on surrounding ecosystems and local communities. ***