Coal royalty arrears to be settled end of this year

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) expects coal royalty arrears totaling Rp 1.5 trillion from the period of 2006-2013 are expected to be settled by the end of this year, a senior official said.

Director of Coal and Mineral Management Program at the ministry, Paul Lubis was quoted by Investor Daily Monday as saying that his office had met with local administrations and mining firms in 12 provinces to seek ways to settle the royalty arrears. ?We have given them six months period until December to settle it,? Paul said.

He added that miners failing to settle the arrears on the deadline will risk legal sanction as the ministry will hand over the cases to the Corruption Eradication Commission. (*)