Govt to crack down on illegal mining

JAKARTA (JP): The government plans to form task forces to curb an increase illegal mining activities in resource-rich provinces.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy will establish a central team to supervise these task forces, which will deal with illegal miners, a statement from the ministry said on Friday.

Illegal mining has caused heavy losses in tax revenue, royalties and fees, the statement said without giving any figure.

South Kalimantan provincial administration said in September that illegal mining companies have reaped Rp 990 billion (US$140 million) in coal sales since 1998. So far this year, they are estimated to have mined three million metric tons of coal.

These companies have ignored environmental safety guidelines and have made no effort to restore the areas after mining them, creating pollution and environmental destruction, the ministry said.

The task forces, which would include representatives of local prosecutor offices, would place emphasize on enforcing the law.

Besides cracking down on illegal mining companies, they would also clamp down on members of the military, the police and administrations involved in these activities, the statement said.

Most of these illegal activities allegedly received the backing of local military or police officials, one reason often cited for the difficulties in stopping them.

Minister of Mines and Energy Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said last week that the government was considering ways of regulating traditional mining activities by local communities.

He said proper community development programs by mining companies would create employment for the local people, which in turn, would prevent them from taking part in illegal activities.

Separately, general affairs manager at PT Adaro Indonesia, Edi Suwiknyo, a coal mining company in South Kalimantan, said illegal mining has drastically increased over the past three years.

Many of these illegal mining companies brought their heavy gear from outside Kalimantan, including excavators which they bought cheaply from construction companies. (03)