House is expected to pass new mining law later this year

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro said he was optimistic that the House of Representatives (DPR) would be able to pass the new mining law by the end of this year. Bisnis Indonesia reported on Wednesday.

"I am quite optimistic that the draft law which is now being deliberated by the House members could be approved before the end of this year," the minister told newsmen recently.

The draft mining law which would replace the outdated law on general mining activities was submitted recently to the House for approval. The House will hold a series of hearings with mining experts and related industries to get important inputs before passing it into law.

Purnomo said that the government and the House would also hold a series of hearings to discuss the technicality of the draft law. (*).