"I wish to remind everybody that mineral and coal resources are not renewable," Jokowi said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesias President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has demanded that accurate estimates of the mineral and coal reserves in the country should be made available to prevent their exploitation.
"I wish to remind everybody that mineral and coal resources are not renewable," he said at a limited cabinet meeting to discuss the mineral and coal exploitation activities here, Tuesday.
Indonesia is ranked 10th in the world in coal resource availability, but "we must remember it can be used up," the president warned.
"It is predicted that in the next 83 years this resource will finish," he added.
The exploitation of natural resources should be done based on the accurate estimates of their availability.
"Most importantly, they must be used for the benefit of the people, and hence, the resources must be used keeping in mind the benefit to the people, their sustainability, the environment and the national interests," he explained.
The meeting was attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita, Industry Minister Erlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Political, Security and Legal Affairs Wiranto, Energy and Mineral Resource Minister Ignasius Jonan, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan, Justice Minister Yasonna Laoly, Environment Minister Siti Nurbaya, State Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno, Indonesia Police Chief General Tito Karnavian, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung and Minister/State Secretary Pratikno.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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