Pangkalpinang – The state-owned tin mining company, PT Timah, insists on establishing a new mining location in the waters of Batu Beriga, Lubuk Besar District, Central Bangka Regency, despite pushback from local communities.
To realize their plan, the state-owned enterprise (SOE) has reportedly sent a letter to the Central Bangka Regency government, requesting the use of a local fishers' fish auction site.
The special committee for mining business license (IUP) discussion at the Bangka Belitung Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), Pahlevi Sjahrun, confirmed PT Timah's plan to use the fish auction site to store tin.
According to Pahlevi on Wednesday, October 23, the request was intended for efficiency since the mining site will be located right in front of the fish auction site and boat docking area.
"We have been to the location and directly confirmed the mining location to the Central Bangka Government," he said. "PT Timah aims to be practical instead of opening a new location."
The special committee, Pahlevi said, also discovered that PT Timah only intended to mine 46 hectares of its total 5 thousand hectares of IUP in Beriga.
"That's the result of our meeting with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries," he said, claiming that PT Timah's proposal was tied to the sum of the non-tax state revenue levy the company has to pay. "Larger mining bloc means larger levy."
PT Timah, according to Pahlevi, must acknowledge that its IUP does not necessarily mean the area becomes a free space. "The mining must be conducted with ministry permission," said Pahlevi. Not only the authorization to mine the area, PT Timah also has several obligations.
These obligations include environmental protection and avoiding social conflicts. "Before mining the area, PT Timah must discuss and disseminate information for the communities to avoid social conflicts," he said.
Previously, the Head of the Ocean and Land Mining Unit of PT Timah in South Bangka, Sigit Prabowo, said the company has the right to mine because, as an SOE, PT Timah is mandated to optimize Indonesia's tin reserves.
"We acknowledge the pros and cons because they exist in all activities. In Batu Beriga, we have a long-existing IUP, starting from exploration rights and exploitation rights, and, starting in 2010 since the enactment of the Mineral and Coal Law, it has been transformed into an IUP," he said.
"If we wanted, we could operate the mining by force. But we are avoiding that. We prefer to hold discussions and listen to aspirations."
Sigit said it would be regrettable if the rich tin reserves in Batu Beriga were not utilized optimally. PT Timah, he said, also remains open to hearing residents' aspirations to find the best solution.