Bridging the gap: evaluating the impact of mining regulations on community empowerment in post-mining transition – a case study of underground gold mining in Indonesia

Authors: Ismiati, R; Seputro Koestoer, RH; Cagloel, TYM; Setiawati Tumuyu, S Download Paper Open access courtesy of:

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2615_29

Cite As:
Ismiati, R, Seputro Koestoer, RH, Cagloel, TYM & Setiawati Tumuyu, S 2026, 'Bridging the gap: evaluating the impact of mining regulations on community empowerment in post-mining transition – a case study of underground gold mining in Indonesia', in AB Fourie, G Boggs, J Heyes & M Tibbett (eds), Mine Closure 2026: Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 1-7, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2615_29



Abstract:
Mine closure planning should be initiated at the earliest stages of mine development and systematically integrated throughout the mine life cycle. Such an approach helps ensure that long-term environmental, social, cultural, and economic impacts are effectively anticipated, managed, and mitigated. While Indonesia’s mining legislation requires mining companies to prepare mine closure plans and implement community development and empowerment (Pengembangan dan Pemberdayaan Masyarakat – PPM) programs, the existing regulatory framework primarily focuses on mine closure obligations and does not explicitly establish a post-mining transition phase. This regulatory gap limits the capacity of affected communities to achieve sustainable livelihoods beyond mine closure. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Indonesia’s mining regulations in supporting community empowerment during the post-mining transition through a qualitative legal-empirical approach. The study combines a normative analysis of Indonesia’s mining legislation with an empirical case study of underground gold mining. Survey data were collected from 416 respondents across 5 villages directly affected by mining activities to assess community awareness, participation, preparedness, and understanding of the regulatory framework governing mine closure and post-mining transition. The findings reveal low levels of community awareness of mine closure planning, limited access to regulatory information, and weak understanding of stakeholder roles and responsibilities. These conditions indicate inadequate community preparedness, particularly among households whose livelihoods depend on mining activities. The study identifies a significant governance gap arising from the absence of a clearly defined post-mining transition phase within the current regulatory framework. Based on these findings, the study proposes a post-mining transition framework that integrates environmental restoration, socio-economic transformation, institutional coordination, and community empowerment. Strengthening regulatory integration, improving information dissemination, and enhancing participatory governance are essential to support sustainable post-mining outcomes and long-term community resilience in Indonesia.

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