Govt aims to pass geothermal resources bill into law in August

The government is determined to pass into law a proposed geothermal resources bill in August, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro said Monday.

?We will complete our deliberation over the bill as soon as possible,? Purnomo told reporters.

The geothermal resources bill is among of the few bills proposed by the parliament as most of the bills have come from the government.

Purnomo said that his office and House Commission VIII in charge of energy and mineral resources were completing their deliberation over licensing procedure in the geothermal sector.

The geothermal bill, a copy of which was made available to Petromindo.com, stipulates the central government and the regional governments (provincial and regency governments) have the authority to issue licenses to geothermal energy investors.

Commission VIII member Tunggul Sirait said earlier that among of the most crucial points deliberated by the commission were obligations of investors and the division of revenues between the central government and regional governments.

Some 40 percent of the world?s geothermal resources are located in Indonesia. (*)