E. Kalimantan to stop issuing new coal mining licenses

East Kalimantan will temporarily stop issuing new coal mining licenses (Kuasa Pertambangan) to prevent further damage to the province?s environment, a government official said as quoted by local daily Tribun Kaltim.

Province?s Head of Mining and Energy Office Yakup said the environmental costs incurred by irresponsible coal mining operations are much greater than the revenue collected in the form of royalties.

It?s not entirely clear how provincial government could push for banning new licenses as the power to issue mining licenses mostly lie in the hands of regency governments. (*)