Perhapi to establish mining certification agency

The Association of Indonesian Mining Professional (Perhapi), in cooperation with related professional organizations, will establish a mining certification agency to help assess the country's mining activities including geothermal operation.

"The preparation has begun since June last year and we hope the agency can be established in 2005," Perhapi's chairman Abdul Latif Baky said in the association's annual meeting in Palembang on Friday.

He said that the agency, which will group reliable and competent mining professionals, will provide assessment services especially to investors intending to enter the country's mining sector.

The lack of available data and information has become one of hurdles to lure new investors to enter the country's high-risk mining sector, he said, adding that the agency would provide assessment, suggestion and information to potential investors. (*)