Minerba introduces online service for mining licenses

By Thomas Sembiring

The Directorate General of Mineral and Coal (Minerba) at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources introduced on Wednesday a new online system for obtaining mining licenses as part of ongoing efforts to streamline licensing procedure.

At the soft-launching ceremony of the new online system, attended by coal and mineral mining firms, Director General of Mineral and Coal Bambang Gatot Ariyono said that the new digital system would significantly reduce the time required for miners in obtaining licenses.

He said that the number of work days required for getting mining licenses will be cut down from about 30 days in the past to 14 days with the new online service, and is expected to be further reduced to only about four days in the future.

?The Minerba will improve its public service through the online service system,? Gatot said.

The ministry has been taking measures to streamline licensing procedure in the country?s oil and gas, mining and energy sectors in a bid to help lure fresh investment.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak