No permit for sand quarry

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)