Indonesia considers dropping mining ban in protected forests
Copyright 2001 Deutsche Presse-Agentur
October 10, 2001
Jakarta - The Indonesian government is considering scrapping articles in its 1999 forestry law that ban open pit mining in protected forests, news reports said on Wednesday.
"It's possible to review the law. We are open to discussing it," Indonesian Minister of Forestry Muhammad Prakosa told The Jakarta Post newspaper.
Law No.41/1999, which includes a ban on open pit mining in protected forest areas, has been seen as a leading factor in discouraging new investments in Indonesia's mining sector, as an estimated 60 per cent of the country's mineral resources are located in protected areas.
Prakosa said the ministry had also set up a joint team with the Ministry of Resources and Ministry of Environment to examine the cases of some 150 companies that had obtained mining licenses in protected forest areas prior to the 1999 ban.