Suspension of mining permits on protected forests unrealistic

The pressure given to the government to suspend mining permits on protected forests are unrealistic, according to chairman of the Indonesian mining association (IMA), Paul Louis Coutrier.

Fears that the mining operation would damage the forests and environment are exaggerated, he added.

"There is fear that if the permits are not suspended, there will be massive destruction of the forests," he was quoted by Bisnis Indonesia as saying on Saturday.

The ministry of forestry is seeking the suspension of the permits of 150 mining companies for occupying protected forests following the issuance of the new forestry law, which no longer tolerates open-mining activities in protected or conservation forests.

According to the ministry, the permit revocation is needed to curb the forest destruction, which has affected at least 32 million hectares of land.

Coutrier said that the land area used for mining operation reached only about 135,000 hectares, much smaller compared to 55 million hectares of land given to forest concessionaires.

"The 135,000 hectares of land include mining production and resettlement area, as well as road infrastructure," he said.

Moreover, not all of the land areas licensed for mining operators are used. According to the mining regulation, the land which does not contain enough mineral deposits or its size is too small for further development, should be returned to the government. The relinquished mining area could be then offered to other interest parties.

"As the same area could change hands for several times, the total size of land areas licensed for mining operation could be larger than their actual size," he said.

According to Coutrier, only about 300,000 hectares of the 5 million hectare-area licensed for mining operation during 1968 are actually used. The remaining 4.7 million hectares are returned to the government because they did not contain enough mineral deposits. (*)