Govt prepares law on geology
Wednesday, December 20 2000 - 05:30 AM WIB
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro said on Wednesday the ministry was drafting a law regulating the management of information and data on the country's geological structures, mineral resources, underground water resources, and geothermal resources
Purnomo said in a statement distributed during the yearend press conference that the Geology Law would provide guidelines for the development of the resources.
He said the law would help boost investment to develop the country's mineral, underground water and geothermal resources and help the regional administrations in managing their resources during the decentralization era.
The government has planned to implement the No. 22/1999 on Regional Autonomy and the Law No. 25/1999 on Revenue Sharing between the Central and Regional Governments on Jan. 1, 2001, which will give autonomy rights to the provinces, regencies and mayoralties.
Purnomo also said the ministry was developing a digital-based system which will allow the regions to easily access data on their own mineral resources.
Purnomo did not provide further details on the contents of the planned law and the timeframe for the completion of the drafting of the law.
He however noted that the government did not place the Geology Law high on the priority list of laws to be discussed with the House of Representatives.
The government gave priority to the oil and gas bill and the electricity bill, which have bee submitted to the House, and the mining bill, which is still being drafted, Purnomo said. (Godang)