Mining permit ?moratorium? to only affect coal industry

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is set to soon impose suspension on the issuance of new coal mining permits as a follow up to President Joko Widodo?s instruction made in April on the ?moratorium? of new mining and palm oil permits, Bisnis Indonesia reported on Monday.

The paper quoted ministry?s Head of Legal Bureau Heriyanto (one name) as saying that new permits for mineral mining will still be allowed.

He said that new permits for coal mining will be suspended as the impact of coal mining to the environment is considered as more ?urgent? to be resolved.

He added that coal mining companies can still expand their operations as long as the permits for the mines have already been issued prior to the moratorium policy. (*)