Minister suggests reducing number of coal export terminals

By Bambang Atmaja

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Rajasa has suggested for the reduction in the number of coal export terminals in the country to help better control export, ensure proper tax revenue for the state, and curb illegal mining activities.

He suggested that the number of the coal export terminals should be limited to 25, but fell short of disclosing the current number of coal export ports in the country. He said that there are too many shipping terminals for coal in this vast archipelago country, hampering government officials to monitor export.

?I agree with the plan to reduce the number of the coal shipping terminal,? he told Petromnido.com Tuesday. ?I think the appropriate number of the terminals is 25 across the country.?

Officials at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources have previously made similar suggestion.

Indonesia comprises of 17,500 islands. The Indonesian Coal Mining Association has said that the country has suffered potential losses of Rp 5.5 trillion annually from 56 million metric ton of coal production that could not be verified every year.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak