Governors to have broader power in issuance of mining permits

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has promised to give a broader power to governor or heads of the provincial administration in the issuance of mining permits in the province to eliminate potential conflicts stemming from the issuance of overlapping mining permits, Investor Daily reported.

Speaking during a limited Cabinet meeting on energy at the headquarter of Pertamina in Jakarta, the President said that the rights in awarding mining permits which are now held by regents or heads of regency administration would be handed over to governors.

The change in the procedure in the issuance of mining permits would be needed to curb the growing number of mining permit problems, the President said. ? I will give a broader power to governor in line with the existing government regulation to put mining permit issuance in order,? he said.

According to data issued by the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, as of May, there have been 1,029 legal cases resulting from the issuance of overlapping mining permits issued by regents. The ministry also said that there are a total of 10,566 active mining permits but only 4,626 have obtained a clean-and-clear status.

A clean and clear status is given to mining companies which comply with all mining requirements and having no permit and areas-overlapping problems.(*)