TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Presidential candidate Anies Baswedan stated that the state must oblige the mining industry to employ renewable methods in its operation. This statement was his answer to a question on the acceleration of the green economy in the mining industry.

"Since the budget of upgrading production tools is not cheap, many [mining companies] reasoned that as long as the government does not make it mandatory, they don't upgrade their technologies," he said when met at Wetland Square in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan on Tuesday, December 5.

An audience asked Anies Baswedan earlier, stating that Banjarmasin had an issue with ecologically damaging mining activities. In response, he said that mining activities in other parts of the world are more progressive and environmentally friendly. Indonesia, he went on, isn't there yet.

"What's the effect then? The effect is what the communities experience today," said Anies.

He proceeded to mention the renewable methods would include how the digging was conducted, how the soil was stored and restored, and how the reforestation process was conducted.

"What often happened [in Indonesia] was you dig a hole, then you leave. Those holes became voids without any greenery," he said.

Anies Baswedan said that if elected, he would demand the realization of said green methods. "Not only mandating the companies, but the state policy must also require environmentally friendly methods and tools to ensure the activities are environmentally friendly," he said.

The former Jakarta governor also mentioned that stern action must be the approach against companies to realize the green economy.

"If the government is not stern enough, it will be influenced by private entities," he concluded.

TIKA AYU

Editor's Choice: Anies Baswedan to Visit Palestine if Elected President

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News