Govt to suspend issuance of new coal permit: Minister

The government is considering to suspend the issuance of new coal mining permits until end of this year pending the resolution of a number of problems in the sector particularly as many miners fail to complete reclamation of ex-mining sites, said Minister of Forestry and Environment Siti Nurbaya on Sunday.

She said that her office would not issue the necessary forestry and environmental permits for opening up new coal mines until the lingering problems have been settled. ?Until end of the year, there will be no new permits for coal,? she said during a forestry forum.

Nurbaya said that the planned policy was based on recent evaluation made by the ministry where the coal mining sector is saddle with various problems particularly incomplete reclamation of former mining sites, where in some cases have caused casualties among local people.

She added that the ministry would also evaluate existing coal mining permits.

Nurbaya also said that the coal sector currently provides little economic benefit to the country?s economy due to the drop in the price of the commodity. (*)