Prabowo Revokes 28 Company Licenses to Protect Forest-Areas

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has reaffirmed its commitment to regulating and enforcing economic activities based on natural resources, particularly within national forest areas. President Prabowo Subianto has taken firm action by revoking the licenses of 28 companies proven to have violated prevailing laws and regulations.

Minister of State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, announced the decision during a press conference at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta, Tuesday, 20 January 2026.

According to him, the policy is part of the government’s commitment since the beginning of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration along with Vice President Gibran Rakabuming, marked by the issuance of Presidential Regulation Number 5 of 2025 on the establishment of the Forest Area Enforcement Task Force.

“The Forest Area Enforcement Task Force reported to the President the results of investigations into companies suspected of committing violations. Based on that report, the President decided to revoke the licenses of 28 companies proven to have committed violations,” Prasetyo stated.

In addition, he mentioned that the firm action resulted from accelerated audits and investigations conducted by the Task Force in post-disaster areas in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, which uncovered violations of prevailing laws and regulations in the utilization of forest areas.

“And on Monday, 19 January 2026, from London, United Kingdom, via a Zoom meeting, the President chaired a limited meeting with ministries, agencies, and the Task Force. During that meeting, the Task Force reported to the President the results of its investigations into companies suspected of committing violations,” he said.

Previously, over the course of one year, the Task Force successfully reclaimed and brought back under state control more than four million hectares of oil palm plantations located within forest areas.

“Of that total, around 900 thousand hectares were restored as conservation forest to protect global biodiversity, including 81,793 hectares within Tesso Nilo National Park in Riau Province,” the minister said.

The revocation licenses of 28 companies involve 22 forest utilization companies operating in natural and plantation forests, as well as six companies in the mining, plantation, and timber forest product licensing sectors. Minister Prasetyo reaffirmed that the government will continue to consistently regulate and enforce compliance among all natural resource-based businesses in accordance with the law.