PEKANBARU — Indonesia’s Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN), Nusron Wahid, has called for a swift and structured overhaul of land governance in Riau, emphasizing the need to accelerate the issuance of land use rights (HGU) and land registration to strengthen legal certainty and drive sustainable development in the province.
Speaking during a working visit and briefing to the Regional Office of the National Land Agency (Kanwil BPN) in Riau on April 24, 2025, Nusron stated, “President Prabowo has tasked me with ensuring HGU reform is carried out with fairness, equity, and long-term economic sustainability as guiding principles.”
The Minister revealed that according to Circular Letter No. 9/SE.HT.01/VII/2024 from the Ministry’s Secretary-General, 126 plantation companies operating in Riau have obtained Plantation Business Licenses (IUP) but have yet to secure HGU titles. He urged the regional office to categorize these companies based on whether their plantations are inside or outside designated forest areas.
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“We must distinguish between HGUs issued before and after the establishment of forest boundaries. Under the current MoU with the Ministry of Forestry, any HGU granted before the forest zoning map is recognized as valid,” Nusron emphasized.
Beyond HGU reform, Nusron also underlined the urgency of completing land registration across Riau. Out of an estimated 3.53 million land parcels, only around 2.15 million—roughly 61%—have been formally registered.
“There are still about 1.4 million parcels, or 39%, that remain undocumented. This is a significant gap—and a major opportunity to unlock legal land ownership for millions of people and businesses,” he said.
Responding to the minister’s directive, Head of the Riau Land Office, Nurhadi Putra, provided an update on the 126 companies in question. So far, 56 companies have received Building Use Rights (SHGB), 10 hold Business Use Rights (SHGU), 25 are in the process of applying for HGU, 13 have yet to apply for SHGB, 19 for HGU, and 3 have no verifiable records.
Minister Nusron’s visit was accompanied by the Head of Public Relations Bureau, Harison Mocodompis, and attended by regional administrators and supervisors. The visit marked a renewed push for structured land reform in Riau, aimed at ensuring transparent land use, minimizing land conflicts, and aligning land assets with national development goals. (P2)
