No permit for sand quarry

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie has ordered Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto to stop issuing new licenses for sand quarrying activities in Riau, a top official at the Ministry of Mines and Energy said on Friday.

Director General of General Mining Rozik B. Soetjipto said the president issued the order in a letter dated on May 19 without revealing the reason for the order.

Rozik said the ministry had been set to award licenses to 82 companies which had met administrative requirements for obtaining the license.

But in response to the presidential order, the ministry decided to cease further processing of the company's applications. (jsk)