The salty scent of the South China Sea, carried by the ocean breeze, clings to Abdul Salam’s (45) worn clothes. His uniform, perpetually stained with oil, resists countless washes. He stands on the ship’s deck, gazing at the sea that has been his home for decades, a silent witness to his unwavering commitment.
Abdul Salam serves as the Captain of Production Dredging Vessel (KIP) 78, operated by PT Timah. He joined the company in 2005, and since then, his life has been dictated by the rhythm of the ocean. Five days at sea, followed by three days ashore to reconnect with his family – a cycle that continuously unfolds. “If Eid falls during my shift here, then here I celebrate it,” he remarks, a testament to his dedication.
Abdul is not alone in considering the waters around the Bangka Belitung Islands a second home. Not far from Belinyu Port, wooden boats navigate the sea awkwardly, conspicuously lacking names or flags. A crew member points to a distant spot where a simple structure, supported by drums swayed by the waves, stands. Its roof is made of wood, its walls of planks, an improvised dwelling on the open water. “Those are illegal miners,” he whispers, a stark truth in the tranquil setting.
Similar structures continue to emerge amidst the waves and passing ships, as if the sea around Bangka Belitung is dotted with tiny markers signaling the presence of operations unrecognized by the state. “Their equipment is very basic,” Abdul Salam explains. “Just pumps. Sometimes they even dive themselves,” he adds, highlighting the rudimentary yet dangerous nature of their work.
Abdul’s story is just one among many in Bangka Belitung, where communities depend on the region’s abundant tin. While dozens of licensed tin companies operate here, hundreds more function beneath the radar, evading official oversight. For the people of Bangka Belitung, tin has become an intrinsic part of their lives, deeply embedded in their economy and culture. In 2021, the province boasted 2 million tons of tin reserves. The potential for tin ore in the Bangka Belitung Islands is estimated at 6 billion tons, with proven reserves exceeding 6.1 billion tons, solidifying its position as Indonesia’s largest tin-producing region.
Illegal tin mining permeates the landscape, spreading from land to sea and back again. Open mine pits gape across numerous areas, transforming into muddy, lifeless pools. Remnants of heavy equipment lie scattered around these holes, leaving deep, lasting scars on the island. Ferdy Hasiman, a mining and energy observer, emphasizes that illegal mining activities cause the most significant environmental damage in the sector because they operate without technical standards or environmental sustainability protocols. He points to Bangka Belitung as a prime example, where land degradation from illegal mines is strikingly visible.
“Illegal mining not only damages ecosystems but also disrupts the growth of public companies in the area,” he states. Ferdy further elaborates that illegal mining lacks technical planning, both in mining methods and reserve analysis. These perpetrators, he explains, are solely focused on mineral extraction, disregarding geological conditions and safety. Consequently, accidents at illegal mine sites are frequent and often result in fatalities. “Large companies first assess their reserves to determine economic viability. Illegal miners simply move in and exploit whatever they find. This makes their destructive impact far greater,” he asserts, underlining the reckless approach.
INFOGRAFIK: The Origin of Rp271 Trillion in Tin Corruption Losses (Katadata/ Amosella)
Environmental Damage
The narrative of illegal tin mining has even reached the State Palace. President Prabowo Subianto highlighted the existence of thousands of illegal mines whose output is smuggled abroad, vanishing without generating any benefit for the state. The estimated financial loss is staggering, reaching Rp300 trillion. However, beyond the lost state revenue, there is an often-overlooked consequence: the increasingly damaged and barren natural environment resulting from irresponsible mining practices.
The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI) reports that the state’s financial losses due to environmental damage from illegal tin mining amount to Rp271 trillion. Within a mere six years (2014-2020), the Bangka Belitung Islands, with a land area of 1.6 million hectares, lost 460,000 hectares of tropical forest. Beyond the forests, river ecosystems also face severe challenges. Over 2,000 rivers drain into the Bangka Strait and the East Coast, directly facing the South China Sea. By 2019, approximately 55% of these rivers were polluted, a situation exacerbated by the degradation of 10,858 hectares of mangrove forest in just one year (2019–2020).
Tin mining in the waters of Matras Beach, Bangka Regency (ANTARA FOTO/Nova Wahyudi/rwa.)
WALHI observes that tin mining exploitation has dramatically increased the amount of critical land in Bangka Belitung. Records from the Bangka Belitung Provincial Environmental Agency indicate that critical land now spans 167,104 hectares (ha) out of a total of 1,668,933 ha of forest and land. Furthermore, the Bangka Belitung Islands are continuously haunted by the threat of natural disasters. An analysis by the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Babel classifies the risk of landslides, floods, and droughts as high. In 2023 alone, BPBD recorded 1,084 disaster events in the region, underscoring the escalating environmental vulnerability.
Meanwhile, PT Timah Corporate Secretary, Rendi Kurniawan, affirms the company’s commitment to preventing the leakage of mining products, both from PT Timah’s concessions and from local communities, outside the country. The company is also dedicated to rehabilitating former mining sites through ecosystem restoration. Rendi states that PT Timah strives to minimize negative impacts on both the environment and biodiversity. “We have undertaken various efforts in land and marine reclamation, including land arrangement, planting vegetation, and mangrove cultivation,” he explains, detailing their proactive approach.
In the Air Jangkang area, a former PT Timah mine is now vibrant with green trees. The large, gaping pit that once marred the landscape has been replanted with various tree species. The roar of machines has long ceased, replaced by the comforting sounds of birds and insects that have begun to return. Simultaneously, at Rebo Beach, hundreds of mangrove saplings stand neatly aligned along the tidal line. Among the workers and local residents, hands soiled with earth harbor a noble intention: to revive what was once damaged. They are specifically employed by PT Timah to plant mangrove trees, preventing abrasion and bringing back the lost ecosystem, embodying a tangible commitment to environmental renewal.
“We want this coast to live again,” says one of the workers, echoing the collective hope for a thriving coastal environment. The final journey takes me across the waters around Pulau Putri. The sea appears calm, yet the stories beneath its surface were once anything but peaceful. Professional divers recount their efforts in creating artificial reefs and fish shelters at various points in the waters of Bangka Belitung. These artificial habitats are believed to foster coral growth and provide a home for fish, thereby helping to regenerate marine biota populations. From the boat, I gaze at the sparkling sea surface. The wind carries faint sounds from a distance, perhaps a fishing boat, or merely the rustle of waves. But there, beneath that tranquil water, new life is being prepared, promising a brighter future for the region’s marine ecosystems.
Summary
Bangka Belitung, Indonesia’s largest tin-producing region with extensive reserves, is plagued by widespread illegal tin mining. These unregulated operations, which often use rudimentary methods, cause significant environmental degradation, including extensive land scarring, deforestation, and river pollution. President Prabowo Subianto highlighted that such mines contribute to an estimated Rp300 trillion in state financial losses and severe ecological damage. Additionally, these activities disrupt licensed companies, operate without technical standards, and frequently result in accidents and fatalities.
The environmental toll is severe, with reports detailing Rp271 trillion in losses due to ecological damage, including the loss of 460,000 hectares of tropical forest and pollution in over half of Bangka Belitung’s rivers. This exploitation has dramatically increased critical land and heightened the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters. In response, licensed company PT Timah actively rehabilitates former mining sites through land reclamation, planting vegetation, and mangrove cultivation. Collaborative efforts, such as creating artificial reefs, also seek to restore marine ecosystems and foster a more sustainable future.
