Indonesia
Archipelago
In Muara Enim regency, the heart of South Sumatra's coal industry, the closure of mines has left local residents scrambling to find new livelihoods, while others continue to live with the economic hardship and environmental scars left behind by decades of mining.
Asnili, a resident of Pulau Panggung village, Muara Enim regency, South Sumatra, searches for gravel in the Enim River to earn a living on July 21, 2026. (JP/Yulia Savitri)
As Indonesia pushes toward a cleaner energy future, many people living in the shadow of coal mines are confronting an uncertain future.In Muara Enim regency, the heart of South Sumatra's coal industry, the closure of mines has left local residents scrambling to find new livelihoods, while others continue to live with the economic hardship and environmental scars left behind by decades of mining.
