TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry threatened to revoke 3,408 non-clean and clear (CnC) mining permits early next year because regional governments have failed to report permit management efforts to the central government

"I have sent a letter to the Interior Affairs Ministry, data [on mining permits] must be handed over immediately from the regency government, to the provincial government. If not, [the permits] will be revoked," said Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan on Tuesday, December 20, 2016.

Based on a recapitulation by the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry the number of mining permits have been reduced from 10,388 permits in the middle of 2016, to 9,721 permits by the end of the year. The number of permits is dropping because most of the mining concession agreement has expired.

As many as 6,313 permits have been declared clean and clear. Around 4,024 permits are mineral mining permits, 2,289 permits are coal mining permits. Meanwhile, the 3,408 problematic permits are mineral mining permits (2,420 permits), and coal mining permits (988 permits).

Director General of Mineral and Coal Bambang Gatot Ariyono said that the permit revocation is regulated under a ministerial regulation. Regulation states that the central government can make interventions to accelerate efforts to manage mining permits.

Previously, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has predicted that efforts to organize mining permits will progress in a very slow pace. Dian Patria, a member of the KPK’s Team of Experts on Mining and Coal Coordination and Supervision, several governors are waiting for a government regulation on permit evaluation. Dian asserted that drafting the law is the obligation of the Interior Affairs Ministry.

ROBBY IRFANY