Govt has not yet approved Adaro's expansion plan

The government has not yet approved the plans of coal giant PT Adaro to gradually increase production to 24 million tons by 2003, according to an official.

Head of the environmental division of the Ministry of Mines of Energy Thamrin Sihite said on Tuesday that Adaro had yet to seek approval over its environmental impact assessment study to obtain the expansion license.

"In terms of technology, the expansion plan has no problem. But there are other things to be considered," he said.

Thamrin also said that the government wanted Adaro to also seek approval from the South Kalimantan administration to anticipate the implementation of the new autonomy law next year.

The new autonomy law gives greater power to regional government to manage their own natural resources. (*)