House forms committee to deliberate minerals and coal mining bill

The House of Representatives on Tuesday officially formed a special committee to deliberate the minerals and coal mining bill submitted by the government last month.

The committee consists of 50 members of all factions of the House, one of the task?s members Ramson Siagian told reporters.

He said the issues that need to be discussed include mining licenses, mining areas, state income and non-taxable income.

The committee would also discuss the possibility of introducing a limitation on the width of coal mining areas, and a domestic market obligation to secure domestic coal supplies, Ramson said.

Among others, the new bill will incorporate the role of local administrations in issuing licenses subsequent to the implementation of the regional autonomy law.

Meanwhile, Director General of Mining and Mineral Resources at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Simon Felix Sembiring said the government expected that the House would pass the bill into law by August this year.

However, it depended on the deliberating process, Simon told Petromindo.Com.

The proposed law on minerals and coal mining will replace the existing law that was enacted some 38 years ago. (dino)