Following a visit by Indonesia’s Vice President Boediono and forestry minister Zulkifli Hasan to Bangka island at the end of last week, a special team will be established to monitor tin mining in Bangka-Belitung (Babel) province, focussing on environmental management.
The team will be headed by the Forestry Minister, and be comprised of the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister and the Environment Minister, among other members, according to the Antara news agency. "Regarding mining in Babel, we will form a central government team comprised of ministers who will be supported by the Governor and the regional administration body," Boediono said.
Meanwhile a trade ministry spokesman told Metal Bulletin that it may not issue any more export licences. The trade ministry licencing system has been the main form of control on tin production and trade since 2007. "Bangka is such a small island. A large part of the island has been used to mine tin, leaving very little for other activities, such as agriculture, recreation, etc," said Djunaedi, head of mining exports at the ministry. "Every time companies apply for new mining licences, they have to commit a certain amount of their budget into post-mining rehabilitation programmes. If this is done properly, there should be no problem. We’re evaluating the best way to sustain the environment after mining," he said.
