Forestry Ministry agree to speed up mining licensing

Forestry Ministry and Energy & Mineral Resource (ESDM) Ministry agreed to speed up the licensing of 13 mining companies operating in protected forest areas so that they are able to operate not later than 2009, Bisnis Indonesia Daily reported on Thursday.

 

Forestry Minister Malam Sambat Kaban said that his office would soon submit a presidential regulation as the legal umbrella for the companies to operate. In a bid to fortify the legal basis, the ministry also would seek edicts from the Attorney General's Office and the Ministry of Law and Human Rights.

 

“We have agreed that licensing of the 13 companies should be soon settled and the Forestry Ministry has prepared the rule. Tommorow (Thursday), the (presidential regulation) draft would be faxed to the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources,” said Kaban after a meeting with Energy and Mineral Resource Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro in Jakarta on Wednesday. 

 

According to Kaban, the legislation prepared by the Forestry Ministry also would apply to all mining companies.

 

In Nov 2006, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said 11 firms operating in 10 different coal and mineral mining areas across Indonesia are targeted to start production in 2007 at the earliest or in 2010 at the latest to help propel the country’s economy.

 

The 11 firms operating in coal and mineral mining areas are PT Meares Soputan Mining in North Sulawesi, PT Tambang Tondano Nusajaya, also in North Sulawesi, PT Dairi Prima Mineral in North Sumatra, PT Natarang Mining in Lampung, PT Newmont Horas Nauli in North Sumatra, PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT) in Sumbawa, Weda Bay in North Maluku, PT Inco in Central Sulawesi, PT Ensbury Kalteng Mining in Central Kalimantan, PT Mindoro Tiris Emas in South Sumatra and PT BHP-Lahai Coal in East Kalimantan/ Central Kalimantan. (*)