Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia revealed that President Prabowo Subianto had given directions regarding the activities of the PT IMIP special airport or IMIP Private Airport in Morowali, Central Sulawesi (Central Sulawesi). Bahlil said Prabowo instructed him to enforce the rules.
“The President’s direction to us, as a Task Force and as Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, is to uphold the rules. Don’t be blind, because the country cannot lose because of things that happen that are inappropriate or violate,” said Bahlil after meeting Prabowo at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (26/11/2025).
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
Bahlil said the airport had become a concern for the Forest Area Control Task Force (PKH). He admitted that he did not participate when the team visited the field in Morowali.
“Yesterday, the PKH Task Force, I happened to accompany the team the day before, led directly by Mr. Sjafrie (Minister of Defense), I went to Bangka Belitung and after that I came back because I had a meeting with the President, so I didn’t participate in the team that went to IMIP,” he said.
Bahlil admitted that he was still waiting for a report from the task force team regarding whether there was illegal activity around the special airport. Even so, he emphasized that the government would take action if violations were found.
“Until now we are waiting for a report from the team. But I have to say that anyone who violates illegal mining or mines outside areas where there is a permit such as the BPKH (Forest Area Stabilization Center) or mines in areas where there is nickel or there is a mine but there is no permit, will still be processed legally,” he said.
Previously, IMIP Airport was in the spotlight after it was said to be operating without officers from the state. This was mentioned by the Forest Area Control Task Force (PKH) which accompanied Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin on a visit to IMIP Airport. The PKH Task Force said that IMIP Airport operates without state authority.
“It turns out that in Indonesia there is an airport without state authority. The airport is in the Morowali industrial area or PT IMIP. Without security, without customs and without immigration,” said the PKH Task Force in a post on its Instagram account @satgaspkhofficial, quoted on Wednesday (26/11).
The PKH Task Force said that the Minister of Defense felt something strange when he arrived at PT IMIP Airport. Airport activities are considered vulnerable because planes are free to enter and leave without supervision.
“When the Minister of Defense and the PKH Task Force arrived at PT IMIP Airport, they felt something strange. There was a lot of vulnerability at the airport. However, there was no state authority, they were free to go in and out without strict supervision. It felt like there was a country within a country. All the crew at PT IMIP Airport were not from state authorities,” he said.
PT IMIP’s Communications Director, Emilia Bassar, has spoken out. He stated that IMIP Airport is a special airport that has been registered with the Ministry of Transportation in accordance with Law Number 1 of 2009 concerning Aviation.
“IMIP Special Airport is registered with the Ministry of Transportation, whose management is regulated in Law Number 1/2009 concerning Aviation,” Emilia said briefly to detikcom, Wednesday (26/11).
Also watch the video: Visit Komodo International Airport, this is AHY’s hope
Page 2 of 2
(fca/week)
