Bahlil Reassures that Fuel Stock is Safe, Defective Mining Permits to be Evaluated

JAKARTA - Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has again ensured that the supply of fuel, LPG, and national crude oil is still safe. He said that all energy stocks were above the national minimum standard.

This was conveyed by Bahlil after reporting to the President at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday, May 12.

"I just reported to the President regarding the readiness of our fuel to date, as well as LPG, crude, all above the national minimum standard. So, God willing, there will be no problem," said Bahlil.

Apart from the issue of energy stocks, Bahlil also reported on the arrangement of mining permits. The focus is on mining business permits or IUP in forest areas and mining permits that have not been carried out so far.

According to Bahlil, there are companies that have held IUP and all their permits are complete, but their mining activities are not running. This condition is a concern for the government because mining permits should not only stop as a document.

"Some IUPs that have not been functional as they should. That is, they have IUPs, the permits are complete, but they have never been carried out," he said.

Bahlil said the President had ordered an evaluation of the mining permit about one to two months ago. He admitted that he had reported the development of the permit arrangement to the President.

This step is important because mining permits concern the management of natural resources, forest areas, and investment certainty. The government is now starting to highlight permit holders who do not carry out their obligations in the field.

The evaluation of the stalled IUP is also a signal that the government wants to regulate unproductive mining permits. In that way, mining permits are not only assets on paper, but actually provide economic benefits and remain within the rules corridor.