Govt establishes 73 regencies for coal mining

By Adianto P. Simamora

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has issued a regulation on spatial planning of Sumatra Island establishing a number of regencies as areas for the development of coal and mineral mining activities, mining processing area and tailing disposal site.

The Presidential Regulation No. 13/2012 on spatial planning on Sumatra establishes 73 regencies across the island as areas for coal mining activities.

In Aceh, the areas established for coal mining activities are regencies of Aceh Besar, Pidie, Aceh Jaya, West Aceh, Nagan Raya, South Aceh, Gayo Lues, Aceh Singkil, Central Aceh, Aceh Tamiang, Bener Meriah, Aceh Tamiang and East Aceh.

The regulation also named among others Humbang Hasundutan, Mandailing Natal, Nias, North Tapanuli, Central Tapanuli as among provinces established for the development of coal mining aside from the much-known coal producer areas such as Sarolangun, Sawahlunto and Solok.

Data from the Geological Agency at the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry shows Sumatra has total potential of 85 billion tons of coal, higher than only 72 billion tons in Kalimantan ? the country?s current top coal producing area contributing some 90 percent to the national coal output.

It said that Sumatra has the total resource of 11 billion tons with the mineable reserve reaching 3.5 billion tons.

The ministry says Indonesia produced some 317 million tons of coal in 2011 of which only 24 million tons coming from Sumatra. Kalimantan itself contributed 293 million ton representing some 92 percent of the country?s total production.

Editing by David Mustakim