Bahlil Opens Door to DBH Revision, Anwar Hafid Fights for Justice for Central Sulawesi
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has opened the possibility of revising the revenue-sharing fund (DBH) policy to ensure that the distribution of state revenues provides a sense of fairness for mineral resource-producing regions. This was conveyed after receiving an audience with Central Sulawesi Governor Anwar Hafid and members of the Central Sulawesi Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) in Jakarta on Wednesday (19/8).
During the meeting, Anwar Hafid conveyed the aspiration that the DBH policy should provide a fairer share for regions that have been the base of production as well as mineral resource processing, particularly Morowali and North Morowali regencies.
“If a region has become part of the processing stage, then that contribution must be recognised in fiscal policy,” said Anwar Hafid in Jakarta.
Anwar Hafid also explained the strategic position of Morowali and North Morowali in the development of the national nickel industry. The two regions are not only mining production areas but have developed into centres of large-scale nickel-based processing and industrial activity.
According to Anwar, the industrial development contributes to the national economy while creating jobs for the community. However, on the other hand, the regions must also bear the consequences of industrial estate development, from infrastructure needs to increased demand for public services.
Therefore, Anwar believes that a region’s contribution should not be viewed solely from its status as a mining-producing area. When economic activity has developed to the processing stage, that position should be reflected in fiscal policy.
The governor, who previously led Morowali for two terms, considers the restructuring of the DBH policy important so that the economic benefits of natural resource management can be felt more proportionally by the regions.
“Regions should not be labelled merely as producing areas while the burden they bear grows ever larger,” he said.
The aspiration received a positive response from Bahlil. The Energy and Mineral Resources Minister said the government would review the existing policy and open room for revision if necessary.
“We will look at it and we will open the opportunity for revision. The important thing is that the policy must provide a sense of fairness for the regions,” Bahlil concluded.
Bahlil said the central government is open to input from producing regions in the formulation and evaluation of policy. According to him, fiscal policy related to natural resources must take into account the contribution and burden borne by regions.
“According to the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister, the aspiration regarding DBH fairness from Governor Anwar Hafid and the Central Sulawesi DPRD can be well received,” said Bahlil after receiving the audience.
The statement signals that aspirations regarding DBH distribution for mineral-producing and processing regions have room to be studied at the central government level.
For Central Sulawesi, the issue is important because Morowali and North Morowali are part of an area with a strategic position in the national nickel industry chain. Therefore, the discussion on DBH concerns not only the amount of regional revenue but also how national fiscal policy recognises the contribution, processing activities, and development burdens that arise in the regions.