President signs new government regulation on mining

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has signed government regulation (PP) No. 55/2010 on the Management and Supervision of Mineral and Coal Mining as part of the implementing regulation of the Mining Law No. 4/2009, said Bambang Setiawan, director general of coal and minerals at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources on Friday.

But he declined to provide details.

According an earlier draft of the regulation, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources holds the authority for the management and supervision of the mining sector. This authority can be delegated to governors as the central government?s hands in the regions.

In terms of the management role, the responsiblity among others are providing guidelines and standards for mining entities in the areas of planning mining concessions, production target, development and empower local community, and import process.

Local government is required to submit report on mining activities to the Ministry in every six months.

Meanwhile, regulation on reclamation and post mining operation has been signed by related ministers, and has been submitted to the president, Bambang said, adding that it would soon be officially issued.

But presidential ruling on underground mining in protected forest area has yet to be processed, he said, adding that the ruling is being awaited by mining investors, and that the Ministry of Forestry and Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources have approved it, he added.

The government already issued two PP in February this year. The two PP are respectively titled Governmental Regulation on Mining Area and Governmental Regulation on the Implementation of Mineral and Coal Mining Business Activities.(godang/bernard)