Mining association hails new forestry regulation

By Samantha

Indonesia Mining Association (IMA) hailed the issuance of the government regulation No.61/2012 saying that the new forestry ruling has given miners an entry point to conduct mining activities in forest areas.

?The new forestry policy is good, indicating that the government gives equal treatment to all miners,? the executive director of the association, Syahrir AB, told Petromindo.com news portal.

Under the government regulation No.61/2012 which is revising regulation No.24 on the use of forestry areas, mining companies whose concession areas overlapping with forest areas, could apply for a forest-lease permit to be able to conduct mining operation in the forest areas.

Syahrir said that previously the government issued a forest-lease permit only to holders of Contract of Works (mining permits) issued by the central government. ?With the issuance of the government regulation No.61/2012, all miners can now obtain forest-lease permits,? he added.

Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said recently that forest-lease permit would be given only to miners which obtained a mining permit before the issuance of the Law No.26/2007 on spatial planning. ?If the mining permits were issued after the issuance of the Law No.26/2007, the miners would not be able to apply for a forest-lease permit,? the minister added.

Editing by Adianto P. Simamora