Regional autonomy in mining sector to start in November

The implementation of regional autonomy in the mining sector will be started in November with a try out in certain provinces which are deemed ready, according to the spokesman of the Ministry of Mines and Energy Budhi Sulistyo.

Budhy said that with the implementation of the regional autonomy, the issuance of mining licenses including mining contract of work would be handed over from Jakarta into the hands of regional government.

He declined to name the list of provinces deemed ready to implement the regional autonomy in the mining sector, but he said that the East Kalimantan province was one. (--R. Amoros--)