Former Minister Of Religion: Giving IUP To Universities Will Cause Problems

JAKARTA - Minister of Agam for the 2015-2019 period Lukman Hakim Syaifuddin assessed that granting mining business permits (IUP) to universities has the potential to cause new problems.

Lukman Hakim Syaifuddin said that giving IUP to universities would provide two problems.

"First, there must be injustice because if it is given to mass organizations or to universities, of course, some will get it, some will not," he said at a press conference on the Nation Conscience Movement (GNB) held in Central Jakarta, Antara, Tuesday, January 28.

This condition will make the impression of government injustice to several universities so that dualism will occur.

The second problem, he continued, is that the Government must make clear requirements for universities that deserve to receive IUP.

This requirement must be prepared ideally so that it does not have the potential to cause efforts to use mining resources personally by universities.

Therefore, he considered that giving IUP to universities was an inappropriate step. In this case, the state must fully control the outcome of mining in the country.

Thus, the community and all institutions can directly monitor the government's performance in managing mines for the needs of the people.

"It's better just go back to the constitution Article 33 Paragraph (3) which is explicit, it is clear that the state controls the water, earth, and all the natural wealth contained under it for the greatest prosperity of the people," he explained.

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) recommends universities to be given exploration IUPs to search for where and how much reserves in the region.

"Our note is that the provision of IUPs for mass organizations and later on to universities is for exploration IUPs," said Director of Mineral and Coal Program Development at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Julian Ambassador Shiddiq in a public hearing (RDPU) with the Legislation Body (Baleg) of the DPR, in Jakarta, Thursday (23/1).

Julian said there are two types of IUPs, namely IUP exploration and production IUPs. IUP is exploration to find out where and how much reserves, as well as the exact potential of minerals or coal in the region.

Based on the experience of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Julian explained that the fastest exploration in a period of 3 years costs at least Rp. 100 million per hectare.

"At least a 4-point drill is needed. That's just for drilling, not chemical and other costs," said Julian.

He warned that managing mining land is not an easy thing because managing mines is a cost-effective activity.

Therefore, Julian said that prospective recipients, both from religious organizations and universities, need to be given an understanding from the start that mines are not cheap goods.

"Even though it will be offered later, don't let it not finish its work and the money will go away," said Julian.