Ministers to be given deadline to settle financial obligations to state

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sudirman Said is drafting a new ministerial regulation that would among others set a specific deadline for mineral and coal miners in settling their unpaid non-tax financial obligations to the state including royalties.

Kontan quoted Director General of Mineral and Coal Bambang Gatot Ariyono as saying Friday that the new regulation is aimed at helping the state to secure its so-called non-tax state revenue (or better known here as PNBP) from the mining sector. He did not say when the new regulation would be issued.

Many miners have failed to pay their financial obligations to the state resulting in low PNBP revenue for the government. To date, there has been no clear deadline as to when the miners should settle their financial arrears. Some miners have appealed to the government to be able to make installment to settle their arrears.

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to better secure the PNBP revenue, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has also proposed to set up a new PNBP directorate under the Directorate General of Mineral Coal. (*)