Nanang Suparman, Muhammad Andi Septiadi, Yuflih Rizkia Timoty, Faizal Pikri
This study aims to analyse the regulatory hierarchy and its implications within the regional autonomy regime in the context of bauxite mining management in Indonesia, with a focus on Tanjungpinang City. Although decentralization grants local governments the authority to manage natural resources, overlapping regulations between central and regional authorities have resulted in governance conflicts, weak enforcement, and substantial environmental degradation. Utilizing a mixed-method approach informed by Kagan’s regulatory model, this research integrates field-based environmental assessments including bauxite sediment sampling and post-mining water quality analysis with a normative analysis of mining regulations and governance practices. The findings reveal a dominance of procedural legal frameworks over substantive environmental accountability. Regional autonomy laws tend to prioritize investor interests, often at the expense of community welfare and environmental restoration. Additionally, inadequate local oversight has allowed the continued export of unprocessed bauxite, exacerbating environmental harm. This study contributes new insights by exposing the structural misalignment between regulatory authority and environmental responsibility under Indonesia’s current autonomy regime. It underscores the urgent need for regulatory reform that clarifies lines of authority, mandates in-country bauxite processing prior to export, and enforces post-mining reclamation obligations at the regional level. These recommendations aim to support policymakers in designing enforceable and context-sensitive reforms for sustainable bauxite mining governance. © 2026, Shahrood University of Technology. All rights reserved.
Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Social and Political Science, Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Gunung Djati, Bandung, Indonesia; Department of Business Digital Faculty of Economic and Business, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia
Research at a Glance
Register to unlock
Topics & SDG Alignment
Register to unlock
Collaboration
Register to unlock
Author Profile (Selected)
Register to unlock
References Overview
Register to unlock
Journal & Source
Register to unlock
Metadata & Integrity
Register to unlock