Link-AR Borneo Pushes for Stronger Oversight and Better Governance of Bauxite Mining in West Kalimantan

Meeting with the West Kalimantan Provincial Environmental and Forestry Agency (DLHK)

Addressing Challenges in Bauxite Mining Governance in West Kalimantan

27 March 2026

Link-AR Borneo’s initial coordination marked an important step in responding to ongoing challenges in bauxite mining governance in West Kalimantan. The rapid expansion of extractive industries has not been matched by adequate environmental protection, the fulfilment of community rights, or guarantees of decent livelihoods for workers and affected communities.

Link-AR Borneo’s Meeting with the West Kalimantan Provincial Environmental and Forestry Agency (DLHK)

Through this meeting, Link-AR Borneo sought to build a shared understanding of the realities of bauxite mining in West Kalimantan, while opening up broader opportunities for collaboration between government institutions and civil society. This initial coordination provides a foundation for promoting mining policies and practices that go beyond profit-driven interests and ensure environmental protection, respect for community rights, and the well-being of workers and affected communities.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to raise various issues encountered on the ground, ranging from environmental impacts and the protection of affected communities to the need for stronger oversight of mining activities. Link-AR Borneo also gathered data and information from DLHK to strengthen its advocacy efforts moving forward.

Meeting with the West Kalimantan Provincial Department of Industry, Trade, Energy and Mineral Resources (Disperindag ESDM) and the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD)

Strengthening Oversight and Accountability in Bauxite Mining Governance

30 March 2026

Bauxite mining activities in West Kalimantan have expanded rapidly in recent years. The expansion of mining areas increasingly overlaps with community living spaces, bringing mining operations into direct contact with the lands and livelihoods of local communities. This situation demands serious attention to how mining activities are monitored and regulated, not merely through administrative procedures but also through closer scrutiny of conditions on the ground.

Link-AR Borneo’s Meeting with the West Kalimantan Provincial Department of Industry, Trade, Energy and Mineral Resources (Disperindag ESDM)

The land of West Kalimantan is not a resource to be plundered and extracted without limits. It is the foundation of people’s livelihoods and the future of their communities. Yet mining activities continue to leave behind a range of problems, including deforestation and environmental degradation. While profits continue to flow to a handful of parties, local communities are left to bear the consequences: the loss of their living spaces, the destruction of food sources, and environmental damage.

This situation calls for full transparency regarding mining permits, public access to concession maps, and clear information on whether companies are complying with their environmental obligations. Strong and consistent oversight is essential to ensure that mining operations comply with regulations, are held accountable, and do not exceed the environment’s carrying capacity.

Link-AR Borneo’s Meeting with the West Kalimantan Provincial Department of Industry, Trade, Energy and Mineral Resources (Disperindag ESDM)

Through meetings with Disperindag ESDM and the West Kalimantan Provincial DPRD, Link-AR Borneo called for stronger, more transparent oversight that puts people’s interests first. The state must not turn a blind eye. Natural resource governance must uphold justice, sustainability, and the protection of affected communities.

Weak oversight creates opportunities for violations, ranging from unlawful mining practices and the neglect of occupational health and safety to forest destruction.

These meetings mark an initial step in reaffirming the responsibility of the regional government, through Disperindag ESDM and the West Kalimantan Provincial DPRD, to ensure that all mining activities comply with applicable regulations, respect community rights, and do not come at the expense of the environment.