Ministry Of Energy And Mineral Resources Rejects Coal Production Plans From 51 Companies

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) reported that it has rejected at least 51 applications for a Work Plan and Budget (RKAB) from 51 companies throughout 2023.

Acting Director General of Mineral and Coal (Dirjen Minerba) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Bambang Suswanto explained, the total production plan in the RKAB of the 51 companies reached 7.8 million tons of coal.

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources received 948 applications and 890 applications were accepted.

"The total planned production of 51 companies that were rejected was 7.8 million tons," said Bambang in a Hearing Meeting with Commission VII of the DPR RI, quoted on Tuesday, November 7.

Bambang detailed that the 51 RKABs were rejected for various reasons, including 15 applications with Indonesian compact persons (CPI), 9 applications due to facilities for feasibility studies and amdal, and 1 application related to Minerba One Data Indonesia (MODI), 11 applications were rejected for discussing finance and 15 other applications were rejected for other reasons due to technical reasons, Borrowing and Using Forest Areas (IPPKH).

On the same occasion, Bambang also conveyed an update regarding the changes to the 2023 RKAB.

"A total of 84 applications have been approved, 38 applications have been rejected, 22 applications have been rejected," he said.

The 22 rejections of the RKAB revision application consisted of 12 other applications based on other reasons, 6 applications because Feasibility Study and Amdal, 2 applications were rejected on the grounds that CPI, and 2 applications were rejected from finance.

Furthermore, he explained, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Tek issued a new regulation regarding the change in the preparation of RKAB stages for mineral and new coal mining production operations (minerba) and stated in the Ministerial Regulation (Permen) of Energy and Mineral Resources No. 10/2023 concerning Procedures for Preparation, Submission, and Approval of Work Plans and Budgets as well as Procedures for Reporting on the Implementation of Mineral and Coal Mining Business Activities as of September 11, 2023.

This rule also revokes part of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation No. 7/2020 concerning Procedures for Providing Regions, Licensing, and Reporting on Mineral and Coal Mining Business Activities.

In the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation No. 10/2023, changes to the exploration and operation period are listed in Article 3 Paragraph 1, specifically for the RKAB stage of exploration activities valid for 1 year.