Govt, investors to discuss mineral processing and refinery issues

By Dihar Dakir

Vice Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Widjajono Partowidagdo said that the office would organize a formal meeting inviting investors to discuss the policy requiring miners to build mineral processing and refinery facilities to upgrade the added value of mineral.

The fix schedule of the first formal meeting has not been announced yet.

?We will ask the investors about their ability to build the processing and refinery facilities at the meeting,? Widjajono said in informal meeting with the ministry?s officials and members of the Association of Indonesian Mining Expert (Perhapi).

He insisted that the government would not delay the implementation of the policy, adding that the mining companies could form a consortium to ease the financial snags to build the processing and refinery facilities.

By Adianto P. Simamora