Govt to tigthen control over mining permit

By Bambang Atmaja

Home Affair Minister Gamawan Fauzi said that the government would tighten control over the issuance of license for mining operation at the province and district level to avoid bribery and collusion.

Minister Gamawan said that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has given him direction over the matter. "The issue is one of the things directed by the president. The issuance of license must be controlled again, it is not allowed to issue a license easily," he told Petromindo.com at the State Palace.

"It will be so controlled that bribery, corruption, and manipulation will not be allowed to exist in the issuance of a licence," said Gamawan. The minister said that he would arrange the way to implement the control.

Under the presidential instruction number 13, 2013 on the acceleration of increasing added value of mineral ores through processing and smelting, home affair minister is required to control the issuance of mining operational permits in order to facilitate the acceleration.

Editing by Adianto P. Simamora