Only six mining firms to be allowed to operate in protected forests

Forestry Minister MS Kaban has said that his ministry would only issue permits to six of the 13 mining companies allowed to continue their operations in protected forest areas, Kompas reported on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters during his official visit in Bandar Lampung on Tuesday, the minister said that the other seven companies would not be allowed to continue their mining activities.

"We will not give any licenses to the other seven even though they will take a legal action to challenge the decision," the minister said, without specifying the reasons.

The 13 companies are PT Gag Nickel, PT Aneka Tambang, PT Freeport Indonesia, PT Karimun Granite, PT Pelsart Tambang Kenacana, PT Indominco Mandiri, PT Weda Bay Nickel, PT Sorikmas Mining, PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals, PT Interex Sacra Raya, PT Natarang Mining and PT International Nickel Indonesia. The six companies that will get permits from the ministry are PT Karimun Granite, PT Weda Bay Nickel, PT Sorikmas Mining, PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals, PT Aneka Tambang and PT Natarang Mining

The 13 companies were forced to halt their mining operation in protected forests following the issuance of the 1999 Forestry Law, which banned open-pit mining operations in forest conservation areas.

However, the government issued a regulation in lieu of law in 2004 (Law No. 19, 2004) to allow the 13 companies to resume their operation. This was followed by the move by the House of Representatives to amend the forestry law in line with the the regulation in lieu of law. Non-governmental organizations petitoned the Constitutional Court to revoke the regulation. But the court rejected their petitition.

Director General of Geology and Mineral Resources at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Simon F. Sembiring said that although it would be the rights of the Forestry Minister to issue the permits, he should also respect the government's decision.

Sembiring said that the seven companies had not yet applied for permits to the Forestry Minister to resume their respective mining operations. "This does not mean that they are no longer interested in the mining areas," he added. (*)