Provincial administrations revoke 534 problematic IUPs

Provincial governments have revoked a total of 534 problematic IUP mining business permits which have failed to obtain the so-called clean and clear (C&C) status.

This was revealed by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sudirman Said on Thursday, citing reports filed by the governors, who have been authorized to recommend which IUPs to get C&C status, which are to be revoked.

He said that the process to clean up the country?s mining sector from problematic IUPs will continue going forward, suggesting the more problematic IUPs will be revoked.

?Provincial governors have revoked 534 IUPs. It?s not our intention to revoke IUPs, but to make sure the requirements are met (by the miners). If they (miners) have bene given opportunities and continue to fail to meet the requirements, the last resort is to revoke (the permits),? Sudirman explained.

Elsewhere, Sudirman said that of the total 10,388 IUPs, as many as 6,365 IUPs have received the C&C status. Of the remaining 4,024 IUPs which have yet to get the C&C status, the governors have recommended 1,079 to get the C&C status, but after verification by the ministry, only 187 are eligible to get the status.

Elsewhere, Sudirman said that the revocation of the IUP mining permits will not affect the country?s coal production as they?re mostly small miners. He said that the country?s coal output are mostly produced by large miners holding the coal contracts of work.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak