yes, when all coal mining ops are owned by Bakrie, then the tax gets scrapped, funny that.....

Following a protracted debate over the various duties on coal, the government says it will scrap the value-added tax (VAT) on the commodity. The Finance Ministry's director general for taxation, Darmin Nasution, said in the latest proposed amendment of the VAT law coal would be excluded from the list of taxable goods, effectively exempting the commodity from the 10 percent tax.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono opened the annual Trade Expo Indonesia at The Kemayoran fair grounds here Tuesday amid fears of a weakening global economy that could dampen international demand for the country's commodities. The President cited the International Monetary Fund's downward revision of world economic growth from 5.2 to 4.8 percent next year and the steep rise in oil prices, warning "this could affect our exports, the state budget and the whole economy".

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The government will launch the worldwide interoperability for microwave access (Wi-Max) technology, the Indonesian version. The research and development of this technology has started and it is expected that the prototype will be launched in late 2009. Information and Communication Minister, Muhammad Nuh, said Wi-Max technology of the Indonesian version will be launched on National Awakening Day on May 20 next year.

Medan (ANTARA News) - The Association of Indonesian Oilpalm Farmers (Apkasindo) says the government had been lax in keeping abreast of foreign control over oil-palm plantations in the country. Apaskindo Secretary General Asmar Arsjad said here on Tuesday the government had been off-guard with regard to foreign land ownership. "This will lead to a take-over of palm-oil fields by them as transactions are made illicitly," he said.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Iceland is seeking opportunities to invest in geothermal development in Indonesia, an Indonesian official said. "They are offering cooperation to develop geothermal-based energy projects," Industry Minister Fahmi Idris said after accompanying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in receiving Iceland`s Minister of Industries Ossum Skarphedinsson here on Tuesday. Iceland had expertise in geothermal development, he said.

Medan, N Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Global crude palm oil prices are expected to hit a 23-year record of US$900 per ton following a rise in global oil prices, an industry spokesman said. "CPO prices in Rotterdam rose to US$885 per ton this week from US$865 per ton a week earlier due to a rise in global oil prices and rising demand amidst tight supply from producing countries," executive chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association (Gapki) Derom Bangun said here on Tuesday.