IMA, Perhapi call on govt to delay new mining bill

The Indonesian Mining Association (IMA) and the Mining Experts Association (Perhapi) called on the government to delay the drafting of the new mining bill.

Perhapi spokesman Juangga Mangasi Mangunsong said that the government should first come up with a comprehensive national policy on mineral resources before drafting the mining bill.

?Until now Indonesia has no national mineral policy. This (mineral policy) is actually very important for the drafting of the new mining bill,? he said.

He added that regional governments should also be involved in the design of the national policy on mineral resources.

Separately, IMA chairman Beny Wahju said that the drafting of the new mining policy should be delayed pending the parliamentary approval of the new investment bill and the revision of the regional autonomy law.

?Why not wait until the two (laws) have been completed,? he said.

The government is currently drafting the new mining bill, which will replace the current Law No. 11/1967.(Arry)