Kutai administration warns mining firms to be serious with land reclamation

The administration of Kutai regency in East Kalimantan warned mining companies operating in the region to be serious with their land reclamation program or risk their license to be reviewed including the possibility of being revoked.

Kutai regent Syaukani HR was quoted by Kaltim Post as saying that with the new regional autonomy law, regent administration now has a greater authority in dealing with the region's mining sector including land reclamation.

"There will be no more bargaining over the land reclamation ruling," Syaukani told some 100 executives representing mining companies at a gathering to socialize the new mining authority of the administration following the implementation of the regional autonomy earlier this month.

"So mining companies can no longer be playing around with the land reclamation program," he added.

He also said that the administration would be serious in dealing with environmental aspect in the mining sector.

Syaukani said that the Kutai administration now has a greater authority over its mining sector including the issuing of licenses for general mining activity and C-category mining, drilling and the use of underground water and surface water, and the processing of mineral resources and energy except radio active materials.(*)