JAKARTA - Activists for the Study of People's Democracy (SDR) have asked the government to seriously eradicate the mafia practice of selling coal in East Kalimantan to foreign markets.
"Indonesia is the third largest coal producer in the world after China and India, but in its own country it is running out of coal," said Executive Director of the Study of People's Democracy Hari Purwanto in a written statement, quoted from Antara, Friday, March 25.
Based on the SDR study, coal production in Indonesia reached 562.5 million tons in 2020 or ranks third in the world behind China which reached 3.9 billion tons and India with 756.5 million tons.
Then in 2021, coal production in Indonesia will reach 611.79 million tons with exports of 303.08 million tons.
However, according to Hari, there is a shortage of domestic coal supplies due to the illegal practice of selling coal to other countries.
"In fact, as a result of this practice, the state is not only disadvantaged from the potential state revenue that is not deposited," he explained.
Hari stated that the mafia practice of selling natural resources has the potential to damage the country's economy, domestic coal shortages, and threaten the national energy crisis.
In accordance with Article 33 Paragraph 3 of the 1945 Constitution, Hari reminds that the earth, water and natural resources contained therein are controlled by the state and used for the greatest prosperity of the people.
To that end, Hari submitted a petition to President Joko Widodo to order law enforcement to eradicate the practice of illegally selling coal abroad.
Previously, Member of Commission VII DPR RI Muhammad Nasir conveyed to the government through the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif to dismantle coal imports that did not comply with regulations in East Kalimantan.
Nasir pointed out that there are main actors who control the practice of selling coal in East Kalimantan abroad without official permission. He regrets that law enforcement officials have not acted decisively against coal sales which are detrimental to the country.
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