Govt has three options for miners in protected forests

The government has three options that could be used to give a certainty to mining companies operating in protected forests, according to Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro.

"We are now still studying which of the options are more suitable and applicable," he said in a press conference held during a mining conference held by the Indonesian Mining Association on Thursday.

The first option, according to the minister, is to change the status of the protected forests where the mining operations are located. Under the article 19 of the forestry law No: 41/999, the status of the protected land could be changed with the approval of the government and legislators. The proposal should be based on a comprehensive study.

The second option is to provide a transition period so that the companies which operate in the protected forests would have a certain period of time to adjust to the new forestry law. The third option, the minister said, is to amend the whole law. But this option could incite controversy and strong protects from the public.

The issuance of the new forestry law which prohibits open-pit mining operation in protected forests has affected at least 22 mining companies. These companies which obtained their concessions along before the introduction of the law have been forced to halt their operation.

The government later, with the consent of the House members, allowed some of the companies to continue operation. But these companies need a further certainty so that they will be able to carry out their operations with a strong legal ground. (*)