Ministry of mineral resources, energy to form regional autonomy task force

The ministry of mineral resources and energy will form a special task force to help provinces and regencies in implementing the new regional autonomy law particularly in the mining and energy sector, the Neraca daily reported.

The paper quoted director general of mining Surna T. Djajadiningrat as saying that Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Purnomo Yusgiantoro has approved the planned task force.

Surna said that the task force would provide information and training to officials in the regions in carrying their new greater administrative role particularly in the mining and energy sector.

"The task force is needed so that the implementation of the regional autonomy particularly in the mining and energy sector can run according to the concept. We know that the autonomy euphoria can become counterproductive, causing investors to become doubtful," Surna said.

The minister has proposed a gradual implementation of the regional autonomy policy in the mining sector for five years.(*)