Navigating the Midstream Chokehold: Regulatory Architecture, Digital Surveillance, and Corporate Typologies of Mining Logistics in Indonesia

The midstream logistics sector is the critical artery of Indonesia’s archipelagic mining industry, yet it remains underrepresented in resource economics literature. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the Izin Pengangkutan dan Penjualan (IPP)—the mandatory Transportation and Sales License governing mining logistics in Indonesia. Employing a qualitative statutory and multi-case study approach, this paper dissects the regulatory evolution, the implementation of dual-layer digital surveillance (MOMS and MVP), and the infrastructure capacities of prominent logistics corporations. The results reveal three dominant corporate typologies: vertically integrated terrestrial-maritime networks, specialized deep-sea transshipment operators, and regionally agglomerated affiliated ecosystems. Furthermore, the study identifies a profound logistical bifurcation driven by commodity characteristics—high-velocity bulk logistics for coal (KBLI 46610) versus moisture-sensitive coastal logistics for critical minerals like nickel and bauxite (KBLI 46620), driven by national downstreaming (hilirisasi) policies. The discussion highlights how digital gatekeeping has effectively eradicated regulatory arbitrage, while extreme capital intensity is forcing market consolidation. Ultimately, stringent Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance is emerging as the definitive determinant of long-term corporate viability in Indonesia's mining logistics sector.