ESDM prepares permits for illegal gold miners, 313 WPRs ready
ESDM is also tightening gold traceability after finding signs of illegal gold entering jewelry shops and the market.
The Ministry of ESDM is preparing to legalize illegal gold miners through the Izin Pertambangan Rakyat (IPR) mechanism to improve national gold governance. Director General of Minerba Tri Winarno said the government has prepared about 313 gold Wilayah Pertambangan Rakyat (WPR) locations in 2026, which will then be followed by IPR issuances by governors. ESDM is also overhauling the system for tracing gold origins after indications that gold from unlicensed miners has entered gold shops and the jewelry market. According to Tri, gold production from community mining and PESK is estimated at 50-120 tons per year, close to supply from formal channels. Meanwhile, national output through the first half of 2026 was only about 17 tons, far below the normal average of 100 tons per year.