Govt still working on mining areas zoning

By Adianto P. Simamora

The government admitted that it was still in process to finalize a much-awaited mining areas zoning, a map determining areas allowed for mining activities.

"We are still working on mining areas zoning," Edi Prasodjo, Director of Coal Business Development at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources told the Ozmine 2012 conference in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The 2009 Mining Law mandates the central government to design mining areas in determining the commercial mining business area, state reserve areas and people's mining areas.

"Once it is completed, management of the mining sector would be better," he said, adding that with the regulation, all of the mining activities conducted outside the mining area zone would be illegal mining.

Editing by David Mustakim