Demands for transparency regarding the geothermal energy project in the Mount Tampomas area, Sumedang Regency, have now officially entered the legal realm. The Sumedanglarang Customary Council (MASL), along with the Pangeran Sumedang Foundation, Rukun Wargi Sumedang (RWS), and a coalition of 16 civil society organizations, reported the project to the West Java Representative Office of the Indonesian Ombudsman and the West Java Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP).
This firm step follows the disappointment of the customary delegation, who walked out during an audience at the Sumedang Government Center some time ago. The walkout was triggered by the absence of the Regent of Sumedang, who was expected to attend to provide a direct explanation regarding the exploration project in the area.
The Chairperson of MASL, Susane Febriyati Suryakartalegawa, stated that the regional government has not provided adequate transparency of information to the public. According to her, indigenous communities and local residents have the right to know all project legality documents, including spatial planning analysis, environmental impact assessments, social aspects, and disaster mitigation plans.
Public concerns were further heightened by information from the Sumedang Development Planning Forum (Musrenbang), which stated that the Tampomas Preliminary Survey and Exploration Assignment Area (WPSPE) had been auctioned and drew interest from third parties. MASL assesses that the ongoing process without transparency has the potential to trigger polemics if not immediately explained in an accountable manner.
Currently, the MASL complaint has been officially registered with the West Java Indonesian Ombudsman to enter the substantive examination stage regarding alleged maladministration. In addition, the civil coalition urges BPKP West Java to immediately conduct a thorough investigative audit to protect environmental sustainability, save water spring sources, and safeguard ancestral customary heritage sites around Mount Tampomas.
