Govt to allow mining operations in protected forests

The government will amend the zoning regulation to allow mining operations in protected forest areas.

Under the amended regulation, mining operation can be conducted in protected forests under leasehold mechanism in accordance with the Forestry Law No. 41/2009, Bambang Setiawan, Director General of Coal, Mineral and Geothermal at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said on Tuesday.

Under the amended law, all types of miners can apply can apply for leasehold permit from the Ministry of Forestry to mine in protected forests. Once they get the leasehold permits, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will issue mining permits.

The decision to amend the regulation was made at a meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy following reports from industry players that the current regulation that bans mining operations in protected forests could cost miners billions of dollars.

Article 37 of Zoning Law No. 26/2007 stated that the use of forest areas should be conducted according to existing regulations, resulting in multiple interpretations on whether to implement it using the zoning law or the forestry law. According to the zoning law, no mining activities are allowed in forestry areas. But mining activities are possible in production forests under the forestry law. (*)