Restructuring at Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to start soon

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro announced on Friday the ministry would soon merge the directorate general of mining into the directorate general of geology and mineral resources as part of the restructuring of the ministry.

"The merger of both directorates is expected to be completed next week. But the new organization will be officially inaugurated together with the new formation of the ministry's first and second echelons," Purnomo told Petromindo.Com on the sidelines of the Idul Fitri celebration gathering in the West Java province's capital of Bandung.

The merger follows the implementation of the Autonomy Law No. 22/1999 on Jan. 1, 2001, which transfers mining rights from the central government to the regions. The directorate general of mining's role of regulating and supervising the mining industry has ended following the implementation of the autonomy law.

Separately, director general of mining Surna T. Djajadinigrat confirmed that his office would be liquidated this month and be merged into the directorate general of geology and mineral resources.

The ministry is waiting for the issuance of the presidential decree on the implementation of regional autonomy in mining and forestry sectors before executing the merger.

"I have been informed that the Ministry of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy will issue the presidential decrees simultaneously in January or February at the latest," Surna said. (godang/epin)