Indonesia to Centralize Quartz Sand Mining Permits

Regulatory Shift in Mining Sector

The Indonesian government has announced plans to centralize the issuance of quartz sand mining permits at the national level. Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia revealed this decision following a recent inspection in Bangka Belitung, where irregularities in permit usage were discovered.

Background and Rationale

Previously, the authority to issue quartz sand mining permits was delegated to regional governments. However, the recent inspection uncovered misuse of these permits, prompting the minister to reverse this policy. Lahadalia emphasized that centralizing permit issuance will help maintain order and ensure that mining activities comply with existing regulations.

Implementation and Impact

The new policy will transfer the responsibility of issuing quartz sand mining permits from regional authorities back to the central government. This move is expected to improve oversight and regulation of the mining sector, particularly for quartz sand, which is a critical material for various industries. The centralization aims to prevent further irregularities and ensure that mining operations are conducted responsibly.