(TheIndoDaily.com) – The House of Representatives (DPR) on Thursday (23/01) agree to amend Law Number 4 2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining.
The House Plenary Session, headed by Deputy Head of DPR Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, said the decision came after each faction made a written view about the proposed amendment.
With the revision, tertiary institutions could be included as parties that would be given the right to manage mineral and coal mining, along with mass organizations, which have been granted permission earlier.
The Head of DPR Legislation Agency, Bob Hasan, said during the previous meeting, held on Jan. 14, 2025, the House members agreed that apart from downstream business, mass religious organizations “will be prioritized” in managing mining, which will be regulated under the amended Mineral and Coal Law.
Technical arrangements would be regulated under the government-implementing law.
Industry players and quarters of the society have criticized the Prabowo Subianto government’s plan to award mineral and coal mining to religious mass organizations and tertiary education. They argued that these mass organizations don’t have the capacity and competence to manage and operate this complicated and risky business requiring advanced funding and in-depth experience. (RK)