Gerindra on Discourse of Village Cooperatives Managing Mines: It Is Permitted

The Central Executive Board (DPP) of the Gerindra Party supports the proposal for cooperatives to manage people’s oil wells, palm oil and mineral mines.

Gerindra Party spokesperson Bahtra Banong said there are no rules prohibiting the management of mines by cooperatives, including the Red-and-White Village Cooperatives (Koperasi Desa Merah Putih, KDMP).

“From what we have heard, that is indeed permitted,” said Bahtra at the parliamentary complex on Thursday (16 July).

According to Bahtra, the aim of granting licences for mine and palm oil management to village cooperatives or cooperatives in general is to ensure that their members share in the benefits.

The Deputy Chair of House Commission II said that as long as the proposal does not contravene regulations, there is nothing wrong with it. He hopes mine management can improve the welfare of cooperative managers and members.

“How can we improve the welfare of members and their administrators, so that the direct impact of these cooperatives, especially KDMP, can be felt by local village communities,” he said.

In his speech at the peak of the 79th National Cooperatives Day (Harkopnas) commemoration in Jakarta on Sunday (12 July), Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono said cooperatives are now permitted to manage people’s oil wells and mineral mines.

This applies not only to village cooperatives or KDMP, but to cooperatives in general. It means cooperatives are no longer merely places for buying and selling goods and for savings and loans.

Ferry even said a crude palm oil (CPO) factory managed by a cooperative will be officially inaugurated next month.

“Cooperatives can now enter various sectors, managing people’s oil wells; cooperatives are now allowed to manage mineral mines,” said Ferry.