Indragiri Hulu mining office established

To anticipate the implementation of local autonomy, the Indragiri Hulu (Inhu) administration has established a mining department that has recently been approved by Inhu Council. Inhu regent R. Thamrin Rachman on Monday installed Bambang Irawan as head of the mining office.

Thamrin said after the induction ceremony that Inhu needed to establish its own mining office to anticipate future mining development in his district so that untapped mineral potentials could be mined and give contribution to the administration and local people.

Meanwhile, the head of Riau provincial mining office, H. Amzar Anwar, noted that based on surveys by his office, Inhu had great potential, untapped mineral reserves, including coal, tin, quartz and granite.

"If these reserves could be managed properly, this will contribute incomes to local administration and improve the welfare of local people," he said.

Sharing Amzar's opinion, Thamrin told the new head of Inhu mining office to explore all mining potentials and offer them to investors.

"It is expected this mining office will be able to tap all existing potentials in coal, granite, tin and also untapped oil mining reserves. Therefore, hard works in the mining sector will be able to help finance various development programs of Inhu administration," Thamrin said.

He added that the new head of Inhu mining office must ensure that future mining operation in the district may not harm the environment, moreover local people. Therefore, the new official must coordinate with all related institutions to ensure sustainable mining operation in Inhu. (*)