Govt to act on overlapping permits in mining sector

The ministry of energy and mineral resources has promised to eliminate the overlapping mining permits which have caused a serious problem in the country?s mining activities.

The promise was made by the ministry?s newly appointed director general of mineral and coal, Thamrin Sihite, when he was officially appointed in the new job on Friday.

Sihite said that his office would soon study all mining permits issued by provincial and regency administrations in the country in order to sort out overlapping permits. He acknowledged that mining permits issued by the central government could overlap with those issued by the provincial or regency administrations due to the lack of coordination.

He said that the problems related to the overlapping permits would be settled in phases which would be begun in Kalimantan, then Java, Sulawesi, Papua and other provinces.

The total mining permits (IUPs) issued by local governments has reached between 5,000 and 6,000. Some of the mining permits do not only overlap each other but overlap with protected forests, which could not be developed as mining areas. (denny)