Responding To Articles Of Extension Of IUP, Member Of Commission VII DPR: Accommodation Want Freeport

JAKARTA - Member of Commission VII DPR RI, Mulyanto, rejected the Government's policy of extending the Mining Business License (IUP) of PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) until 2061 through the revision of PP No.69 of 2021.

Mulyanto explained that the IUP for PTFI will only end in 2041 and according to the previous PP, the fastest extension of the permit can only be submitted five years before the permit ends, namely 2036.

"The PP period is revised only to accommodate Freeport's wishes. You should leave it to the new government. You don't have to catch up," said Mulyanto, quoted on Monday, June 3.

Mulyanto suspects that the revision of the PP is only a trick from the Government to secure the interests of PTFI, because the mining permit renewal cannot be processed according to existing regulations.

"I suspect the plan to revise this mineral and coal PP to accommodate PTFI's request, which seems eager to be able to update their IUP," said Mulyanto.

With the revision, he said, it would only damage the long-term order of the national mineral and coal management system.

According to Mulyanto, there is no urgency to rush to grant an extension permit to PTFI.

The important thing that needs to be done is to evaluate the performance of this PTFI before they apply for a permit update.

He also assessed that PTFI did not deserve an extension of the permit because the performance so far was not good. The proof is that the schedule for the smelter construction has been delayed more than eight times.

According to Mulyanto, the government should be more careful in granting permits instead of making it easier.

"Because of PTFI, the government amended Law no. 4/2009 on Minerba. But unfortunately, after being changed, it was still Law no. 3/2020 on the new Minerba, it was violated again," he added.

He said, the Minerba Law which has just mandated that the PTFI smelter must have become in June 2023 and since then there has been a ban on concentrat exports.

But in fact, concentrat exports are still allowed until December 2023, even plus 6 more months until May 2024.

"Masak Pemerintah menutup mata dengan kinerja belepotan seperti ini, bahkan sengaa mengubah PP untuk sekadar memberi carpet merah bagi PTFI memperpanjang izin tambang mereka. Ini kan kebangetan," tandas Mulyanto.