Papua governor: No new permits for oil palm plantations in the province

Papua Governor Mathius D. Fakhiri emphasized that he would not issue new permits for oil palm plantations, especially those that could potentially damage the soil structure and the environment.

He also clarified President Prabowo Subianto's statement regarding oil palm plantations in the Papua region. "I ask that this be clarified and written properly so that what I convey is the President's directive to us, the governors and regents, not ordering the opening of new oil palm plantations, but rather the conversion of land use," he told reporters some time ago.

Fakhiri expressed his hope that his statement regarding the oil palm policy would not be distorted, as the regional government's stance was a follow-up to Prabowo's order to the governors and regents.

"Therefore, the Papua Provincial Government's current policy focuses on restructuring oil palm plantations that already have permits, especially companies that have permits but do not fulfill their obligations according to regulations," he emphasized.

Fakhiri stated that three companies had already had their permits revoked for non-payment in 2025.

"I have instructed the Head of the [Papua Food Crops, Horticulture, and Food] Office (DTPHP) to follow up [on the permit revocation] immediately," he emphasized.

Fakhiri explained that his order to the Papua DTPHP head is intended to ensure that former plantation land with permits that have been revoked will not be rezoned for oil palm development but will be redirected to other commodities assessed to be more environmentally by the government, such as cocoa, in line with the Agriculture Ministry's program.

"I received cocoa seed assistance from the Agriculture Ministry. Land belonging to the PTP (Public Plantation Service) that has not been cultivated for a long time will be used for replanting, not for new oil palm plantations that risk damaging the soil," he divulged.

Fakhiri also requested that palm oil companies operating in Papua Province to build processing plants in the region so they no longer send palm oil raw material in the form of crude palm oil (CPO) outside the region.

"I require existing palm oil companies to build factories here to create added value and create jobs for the Papuan people," he emphasized.