The House of Representatives (DPR) has agreed to make the fourth amendment to Law Number 4 of 2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining (Minerba) an initiative proposal of the DPR. This decision was made during the 11th Plenary Meeting of the DPR for the Second Session of the 2024-2025 Legislative Year on Thursday, January 23.

In the meeting, the opinions of seven factions were submitted in writing. DPR Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad stated that the approval of the bill is only the initial step and has not yet been drafted.

"It will be discussed later, and then there will be public participation. From the results, it will then be formulated," said Dasco.

Previously, the DPR Legislative Body (Baleg) had agreed to propose the Minerba Bill as a DPR initiative and to bring it to the plenary session.

The Chairman of the DPR Legislative Body, Bob Hasan, explained that the third revision of the Minerba Law focuses on four main discussion points. First, accelerating downstream processes in Indonesia to achieve energy self-sufficiency and industrialization.

Second, prioritizing legal provisions for religious organizations to manage mining.

“Third, the same applies to universities, and fourth, of course, to MSMEs,” Bob stated during the plenary session on Monday, January 20.

The Speaker of the DPR, Puan Maharani, noted that the discussion of the Minerba Bill by the DPR Legislative Body during the recess period had been approved by the DPR leadership. The Legislative Body had previously conducted the discussion also on Monday.

According to Puan, the DPR leadership can authorize Council Committees (AKD) to hold meetings during the recess period.

"During the recess period, we, the leadership, if deemed important and necessary, allow AKD to hold meetings to gather aspirations and address matters considered important during the recess," said Puan at the Parliamentary Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, January 21.

This article is published in partnership with Katadata
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