Miners asks govt to speed process on export license

By Godang Sitompul

The Indonesian Mining Society (MPI) has called on the government to step up bureaucracy process on export license of mineral ores to give certainty for miners to run business.

The society in its press release said that bureaucracy at directorate general of mineral and coal at the Ministry of Mineral and Energy Resource (ESDM) and directorate general of foreign trade at the Trade Ministry had caused havoc on most of the mineral miners.

?We appeal to the government so that bureaucracy at the level of directorate general (both at ESDM and Trade Ministry) would not pose polemic since its current strategy (in granting export license) is not conducive yet,? Herman Afif Kusumo of the society said.

Mining companies which will export unprocessed mineral products should receive a permit from the trade ministry as part of the government?s decision to restrict export of unprocessed mineral products.

To get the permit, mining companies should receive a clean and clear status from ESDM showing they run legal mining operations. Miners should also submit concrete plan for the construction of their smelting plants.

Editing by Adianto P. Simamora