Govt to soon submit mining bill to DPR

The government will soon submit the mining bill to the lawmaker House of Representatives (DPR) which plans to start deliberating it in September, according to a senior official at the ministry of energy and mineral resources.

DPR is expected to pass the bill into law by the end of this year, director of geology and mineral resources? secretary R. Sukhyar told Petromindo.com on Friday.

Sukhyar said the bill differs from the existing mining law among others because the draft law does not treat minerals differently; does not discriminate foreign investors against domestic ones; and clearly stipulates that community development must be incorporated into investors? mining programs.

Unlike the existing mining law, the bill also gives particular attention to small-scale mining, and contains provisions related to regional autonomy laws, Sukhyar added.

The bill divides mining licenses into two categories namely mining permit and mining contract. They can be awarded to both local and foreign investors.

The bill stipulates that local administrations have authority to issue mining permits and mining contracts, but says the central government has authority to sanction mining contracts. (alex)