Govt unclear when to issue decree on 15 mining projects

The government is unclear about the exact time to issue a decree to allow 15 firms resuming their mining projects in protected forest areas.

Such decree will be issued only with the approval from the parliament, which is currently in recess, said Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti. The recess started from July 10 and will end on August 13.

?I hope that the companies will be patient enough,? Dorodjatun told reporters in Jepara, Central Java, where he accompanied President Megawati Soekarnoputri to relaunch a number of large development projects from different sectors.

The government last month recommended to allow 15 mining firms to resume their projects in protected forest areas in different provinces. They were PT Freeport Indonesia Papua, PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara, PT International Nickel Indonesia, PT Indominco Mandiri, PT Aneka Tambang, PT Karimun Granite, PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals Maluku, PT Natarang Mining Lampung, PT Meares Soputan Mining, PT Nabire Bakti Mining, PT Meratus Sumber Mas, PT Weda Bay Nickel, PT Gag Nickel and PT Citra Palu.

The firms were among the 22 companies obtaining mining contracts before the issuance of the current forestry law issued in 1999, Law No. 41/1999, which bans open pit mining in protected forest areas. The law implementation affects many mining companies obtaining contracts after it was issued. (godang)