JAKARTA – The Madina Artisanal Miners’ Cooperative (Mandailing Natal) continues to expand the outreach of socialization for Government Regulation (GR) No. 39 of 2025 by going directly to the field and engaging in dialogue with artisanal mining communities.
The socialization activity was attended by the Chief Advisor of the Nusantara Artisanal Miners’ Cooperatives Association (IKTN), Mulyadi Elhan Zakaria, accompanied by the Head of Region I at IKTN Headquarters, Khairul Saleh Sipahutar. The presence of IKTN representatives serves as a form of institutional strengthening and direct assistance for artisanal miners’ cooperatives in the region.
H. Zulfahmi, Chairman of the Madina Artisanal Miners’ Cooperative, expressed appreciation and gratitude for the support and guidance provided by IKTN.
“The board members and members of the Mandailing Natal Artisanal Miners’ Cooperative thank IKTN for its guidance and assistance. We are optimistic that with clear regulations and institutional strengthening, artisanal mining will continue to thrive in the future,” he said in a telephone interview on December 18, 2025.
Echoing this sentiment, Khairul Saleh Sipahutar emphasized the importance of legality and good governance for artisanal miners.
“Mining communities need legal protection through Cooperatives with Artisanal Mining Business Permits (IUPR). At the same time, cooperatives also need advocacy support, professional management, and institutional strengthening. This is where IKTN serves as an umbrella organization that protects and advocates for the interests of artisanal miners’ cooperatives,” he explained.
As information, GR No. 39 of 2025 aims to reform the governance of mineral and coal mining to be more inclusive, equitable, and to encourage downstream processing. This regulation prioritizes licensing for cooperatives, MSMEs, and religious organizations to strengthen the people’s economy and ensure more equitable and sustainable distribution of natural resource benefits for the people and the state.
On the same occasion, Mulyadi Elhan Zakaria emphasized IKTN’s commitment and that of its member cooperatives to legal compliance.
“IKTN understands, respects, and abides by the law. The same applies to cooperatives under IKTN’s auspices. We stress that all artisanal mining activities must be carried out in accordance with the law and government regulations,” he stated firmly.
He also highlighted the challenges of transforming artisanal mining practices from the past toward a more orderly and equitable system.
“Previously, the only ‘law’ followed by some artisanal miners was the ‘law of the jungle’. Now, with the establishment of cooperatives and the implementation of GR No. 39 of 2025 based on Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution, we are directed toward civilized, equitable artisanal mining management focused on collective welfare,” he concluded.(*)
Reported from various sources / Editor: Prime News Post / Photos: Google Documents / Special
