AGINCOURT RESOURCES ANNOUNCES NORTHWARD DEVELOPMENT FOLLOWING BIODIVERSITY ADVISORY PANEL’S FINAL DECISION AND CONDITIONS

Commitment to Conservation of the Tapanuli Orangutan

The Tor Ulu Ala (TUA) development is an essential part of Martabe’s long-term mine plan and represents the final phase of land development at the mine. It is a critical next step to maintain responsible operations and support the mine’s economic and conservation commitments, following years of scientific reviews and regulatory approvals.

The decision to proceed with the TUA development was made with the utmost caution and with a view to minimise the risks to the Tapanuli orangutan population.  This decision followed extensive studies that confirmed the technical, social, and environmental benefits outweigh the mitigatable risks of habitat loss, especially compared to the alternative of not developing the TUA.  

The Biodiversity Advisory Panel (BAP) – comprising five scientists with expertise in Tapanuli orangutan conservation, primates, vegetation, and biodiversity offsets – reviewed the TUA development plan and, based on the identified risks, recommended various mitigation measures. PTAR will adopt and implement all of the recommendations, as noted further below.

To ensure that risk management was followed scientifically and objectively, PTAR delayed the TUA development work for over two years. This postponement provided time for relevant parties to engage in risk identification and mitigation, including extensive on-the-ground verification of wildlife species spread and density, habitat conditions, food sources and movement patterns.  

In addition to the BAP, PTAR has established close and transparent partnerships in managing biodiversity conservation at Martabe with other stakeholders, including the government agency North Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), the ARRC (Avoid, Reduce, Restore, and Conserve) Task Force of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (the IUCN AARC Task Force), and various Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

BAP Position and Recommendation

The BAP acknowledges the importance of the TUA development and has recommended several steps to ensure the balance between socioeconomic interests and environmental conservation, as follows:

1. Enhanced orangutan monitoring and management to track population dynamics, movement patterns and health.
2. Habitat connectivity maintenance between fragmented forest areas from concession areas to protected forests, which is crucial for orangutan dispersal and genetic exchange.  
3. Water quality and quantity protection in surrounding rivers and ecosystems, including effective sediment control, acid mine drainage prevention and responsible water management through all stages of mining.  
4. Development of a rehabilitation and reclamation plan focusing on re-establishing native vegetation, restoring ecological functions and creating viable long-term habitats for wildlife, including orangutans.  
5. Comprehensive impact mitigation plan, based on the mitigation hierarchy, including specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound (SMART) objectives for orangutan habitat restoration and protection.
6. Stakeholder engagement and transparency on project progress, environmental performance and opportunities for feedback and collaboration.  
7. Independent oversight and verification of environmental performance beyond the BAP.  

PTAR has committed to implement all these recommended mitigation measures in full. To date, PTAR has carried out the following measures:  

• The creation of a 2,000 ha on-site conservation zone running across five districts surrounding the mine, designed to connect fragmented habitats. The zone is home to food source fruit trees and provides connectivity for the Tapanuli orangutan to the main Batang Toru Forest.
• Building a dedicated scientific research and observation station, which was funded by PTAR but will operate independently. The station is able to host 20-30 researchers studying Tapanuli orangutan population dynamics, movement patterns and general health. To enhance genetic exchange, PTAR will initiate a genetic diversity study by Q3 2026, using the research station to analyse faecal samples and refine corridor designs. PTAR will also explore rope bridge installations by 2027, drawing on successful models from Borneo to facilitate arboreal movement across access corridors.
• Started engaging external primate conservation experts to conduct annual audits, starting from Q2 2026. These audits will be in addition to the independent audits already embedded through the BAP’s semiannual reviews and through third-party assessments. Furthermore, PTAR plans to formalise an Independent Environmental Oversight Committee (IEOC) by Q2 2026 comprising BAP members, select NGOs, and government representatives, to review the mine’s performance in biodiversity protection and conservation.
• Through its reclamation programme, PTAR had rehabilitated ~40 ha of land by the end of 2024, with plans for further progressive rehabilitation using topsoil preservation, mycorrhizal engineering and a 72,000-seed nursery to restore native ecosystems. Post-closure, TUA’s ~50 ha will be backfilled, capped with NAF and replanted, targeting pre-mining conditions.
• Finally, PTAR is preparing an offset project covering ~3,700 ha to deliver verifiable net gains for the Tapanuli Orangutan population. This expanded conservation programme is located away from the mine’s footprint and is designed to protect critical areas of the Batang Toru forest essential for the long-term viability of the species.

IUCN ARRC Task Force Position and Recommendation

In mid-September 2025, representatives of the IUCN ARRC Task Force, the world’s foremost grouping of primatologists with specialist knowledge of great apes, visited the Martabe mine for an in-depth review of every aspect of biodiversity protection and restoration, followed by data sharing and discussion meetings in Medan. This visit was part of PTAR’s commitment to openness and transparency with the global scientific community. The meetings were also attended by representatives from the BKSDA, the BAP, and PTAR management.

This engagement aimed to provide the IUCN ARRC Task Force with complete and comprehensive information regarding the planned mining activities, particularly the TUA development, and its potential risks to the Tapanuli orangutan population.

Following the meetings, the IUCN ARRC Task Force sent a letter to PTAR offering a conditional re-engagement with a number of constructive recommendations to enhance Tapanuli orangutan protection. As stated in the letter, this re-engagement does not imply that the IUCN ARRC Task Force endorses the mining activities and their impacts on the Tapanuli orangutan, but rather acknowledges the efforts made by the mine in the last few years to avoid and minimise these impacts. Subsequently, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 18 November 2025, reflecting PTAR’s commitment to strengthen its long-standing mitigation strategies through close cooperation with the IUCN ARRC Task Force to further reduce the mine’s impacts on orangutans and their habitat.  

Conclusion: Call for Collaboration

PTAR recognises that the decision to proceed with the TUA development will be closely watched and subject to public scrutiny.

Nevertheless, PTAR firmly believes that proceeding with the TUA development is the optimal decision taking into account the interests and concerns of all relevant stakeholders.  

PTAR has continually demonstrated that it is a responsible operator of the mine and operates to high international standards. It has taken steps to pause development plans to allow consultations to take place in respect of proposed developments and has amended development plans and working practices as a result of third-party assessments and expert advice. PTAR pledges to maintain this open, transparent and collaborative approach throughout the rest of the life of the mine.

PTAR reaffirms its commitment to operating with full responsibility and strongly supports the government’s call for all stakeholders—government, private parties, conservation agencies, academics, and the public—to actively collaborate and synergise our efforts to save the Tapanuli orangutan from the threat of extinction.