Government to issue decree on sand mining
Saturday, April 15 2000 - 04:00 AM WIB
Minister of Mines and Energy will soon issue a decree on the distribution of rights in the exploration of sand in Riau province, Riau Pos daily reported on Saturday.
The head of the mining office in the province Thamrin Hasyim said that under the new ruling, the rights to explore and mine sand in the sea would be shared by the regency authority, the provincial government and the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
The authority to manage the sand deposits under the sea water located four miles away from the sea side would be given to the regency or mayoralty and from four miles to 12 miles to the provincial administration. The sand deposits located more than 12 miles from the shore would be under the control of the ministry, which represents the central government, he said.
The decree, which would be issued following the recommendation from the Riau provincial administration, is expected to reduce conflicts among the government offices in the province, he added.
Riau, the country's largest oil producer, also exports sand to neighboring Singapore. (*)