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Long, winding road to end illegal mining
The government is preparing several measures to tackle unauthorized mining across the country once and for all.
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Search and rescue (SAR) workers evacuate a miner rescued after an unlicensed gold mine collapsed in Bakan village, Bolaang Mongondow regency, North Sulawesi, earlier this year. (Antara/Adwit B. Pramono)
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nlicensed gold mining has made headlines recently, following a series of deadly accidents and environmental damage caused by the illegal business.
To prevent further disasters, the government is preparing several measures to tackle unauthorized mining across the country once and for all. The solutions range from providing permits for such operations to helping miners find alternative livelihoods.
The government’s commitment to addressing illegal mining is included in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Environment and Forestry Ministry and the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, signed on April 29. The document is meant to strengthen coordination between the two ministries.
Sri Rahardjo, a director with the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, said separately that both ministries aimed to assist unauthorized miners in switching to legal sources of income.
“For residents who wish to remain as miners, we can link them up with big mining companies that will buy their mining products. These miners will also operate gold mines located within a people’s mining area; thus, their legality is guaranteed,” Sri told The Jakarta Post recently.
He added that the authorities could also grant a certain group of residents a community mining permit in people’s mining areas, in accordance with the 2009 Mining Law. The law allows small-scale miners to operate legally by requesting a permit.
Individuals can request such permits to operate in a people's mining area that meets several requirements, including the land being located outside any existing concessions and having been mined on for at least 15 years. The establishment of such areas is decided by the regional administration following consultation with the regional legislative council.
