Vol. 19 No. 2 (2016): INDONESIAN MINING JOURNAL VOL. 19 NO. 2 June 2016

Good mining practices and value added issues, particularly in implementing the application of the Law No.4/2009 concerning mineral and coal mining in this country, always dominate the main topic along this edition. Those issues are really significant, because in the early 2016, this law has officially been implemented. All raw minerals may not be exported prior to being processed in smelters. However, the mineral product grade (concentrate) may be exported for a limited time for mining companies in completing the construction of smelter until January 2017. This regulation absolutely become a guidance of the implementation to ban export of ores in the early 2014. There are six minerals banned to be exported, in which they must be exported with grade of reaching 100%, i.e. gold, bauxite, iron ore, nickel, coal and copper. Even currently, President Joko Widodo strictly supervises the implementation of the regulation. Supporting this supervision, the Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi/KPK) is involved to the verification of the mining activities in the country in implementing those issues.

It is predicted that the government must cope with the impacts that can happen when the regulation implemented. One of these impacts absolutely includes termination of employment. The problem, of course, will be a concern for the mining employees. For this reason, the government should give a policy that still permit to export concentrate with certain grade limits until the construction of smelters.

Besides saving the employees, this regulation can be a concession for regional economy, because the mining operation still carries out. Articles related to this law emphasise that holders of mining licences must increase value added of mineral and coal resources in the implementation of mining operation, processing and utilisation. The holders of mining licence of operation and production must domestically conduct process the mineral and coal. It is also stressed that environmental issues are the main points to be managed wisely. In addition, most small-scale mining always gives rise to degraded environment and causes air and water pollution to the communities around the mining operation. This issue must be solved in order to create a healthy environment and to make a harmonious living between the mining company and the surrounding communities.

Five papers published in this journal are contributed by researchers and lecturers from R&D institutions and universities. Some of the authors are well-known figure for their discipline and have contributed their brilliant ideas to improve the mineral and coal technology. The rest is young researchers who are interested in managing a good environment due to mining operation in this country.

From all the papers published in this journal, R&D institutions should do something new to anticipate all the above challenges rather than to cope with all problems. It is really expected that the Law 4/2009 and related regulations must be implemented to accommodate the good mining practices and value added issues including the aspects of exploration, mining environment and economics of the mineral and coal commodities, which are perfectly processed in line with the user demands. Of course, this opportunity should be developed and this is a big challenge for researchers and engineers to prove their capabilities for the better future of this country.

The Editor