InfoSAWIT, JAYAPURA — Papua Governor Mathius D. Fakhiri has reaffirmed that the provincial government will not issue new permits for palm oil plantation development, citing environmental protection and land sustainability concerns.

Speaking in Jayapura on Friday (2/1/2026), Fakhiri said his stance follows direct instructions from Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, emphasising land-use conversion rather than expansion.

“This is not about opening new palm plantations. It is about reorganising existing land use,” Fakhiri said, as reported by Antara and quote by InfoSAWIT.

The provincial government is focusing on reviewing existing permits, particularly targeting companies that are inactive or fail to meet regulatory and financial obligations. Several plantation permits have already been revoked by 2025 for non-compliance.

Land previously allocated to revoked palm oil projects will not be reused for palm development. Instead, it will be redirected toward environmentally friendlier crops such as cocoa, in line with programmes supported by the Ministry of Agriculture of Indonesia.

Fakhiri also mandated that operating palm oil companies must establish processing facilities in Papua to ensure value-added production and job creation. “Crude palm oil should no longer be shipped out without local processing,” he said. (T2)