Not Managing Mining, Universities Only Get Research Funding To Scholarships

JAKARTA - The government and the Indonesian House of Representatives have agreed to cancel the granting of a Mining Business Permit (IUP) to universities as previously regulated in the Draft Law on the Fourth Amendment to Law no. 4 of 2009 concerning Mineral and Coal Mining (Minerba).

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia explained, in the Minerba Bill which was approved as Law today, High Teachers will not get IUP to manage mines, but only for research and scholarship needs.

"(Universities) do not automatically get IUPs. Those who need it can apply for cooperation in research, events or campus facilities," Bahlil told the media crew at the DPR RI Building, Tuesday, February 18.

Bahlil explained that later universities would become beneficiaries of mining near campus areas. Bahlil gave the example of the University of Cendrawasih (Uncen) Jayapura which can conduct research with funding from PT Freeport Indonesia. He also gave an example of universities in the North Maluku region that can benefit from the Weda Bay industrial area.

"Universities can encourage companies to have space so that these friends can join. Likewise, campuses in areas where the mining area exists," explained Bahlil.

Meanwhile, regarding the campus criteria that can receive benefits, Bahlil said that his party would immediately prepare special criteria.

"There must be. This is just the law. It will be regulated later. We are just a law. After the law, the new PP Permen (Ministerial Regulation)," said Bahlil.

Previously, after holding a plenary meeting at the DPR on Monday, February 17, Bahlil emphasized that universities were not given permission to manage mines in order to maintain independence.

"The government, after seeing developments, reviewing, and respecting, maintaining campus independence, there is no direct gift (mining permit) to the campus," Bahlil said as quoted on Tuesday, February 18.

The provision of a Mining Business Permit Area (WIUP) will only be given to State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), Regional Owned Enterprises (BUMD), cooperatives and SMEs.

"If these companies have a desire to worship, provide research funds, create laboratories, provide scholarships to campuses that need it, there are no problems," said Bahlil.