Govt revokes permit of coal firms in S. Sumatra

The Ministry of Forestry has revoked the permit of two coal mining companies in Musi Banyuasin and Musi Rawas regencies, South Sumatra, because the two have failed to fulfill the obligation of rehabilitating their former mining sites in production forest areas, Kompas daily reported on Thursday.

Head of the South Sumatra Forestry Office Sigit Wibowo said that the revocation of the permit was made following recommendation by his office. He, however, did not disclose the name of the two coal miners.

Speaking at a seminar on rehabilitation of former mining sites in Palembang, Sigit warn that mining firms are obliged to gradually rehabilitate their former mining sites after obtaining the so-called borrow and use permit of forest area from the Ministry of Forestry.

There are currently 27 mining firms which have obtained the borrow and use permits from the Ministry of Forestry with combined concessions of over six million hectares. (*)