Govt to ban miners on using subsidized oil starting May

By Bambang Atmaja

The government will ban trucks operated by mining companies on consuming subsidized fuels starting May.

The government also barred the state electricity firm PLN from building fuel-based power plants and should change to plants generated by coal, gas, geothermal, hydro power, solar energy and other renewable energy.

?This policies are aimed at keeping subsidized oil quota not exceeding the target,?Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Jero Wacik said, adding that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had also agreed on the policies.

Jero said that cars owned by governments ministries and state agencies are not allowed to use subsidized fuels starting May.

The policy will be first implemented in Jakarta and its outskirts cities before being implemented in whole of Java island and Bali.

Editing by Adianto P. Simamora