Central Papua Governor Meki Nawipa, contacted from here on Thursday, said mining downstreaming is necessary so that the region’s natural resources are not only extracted but also provide greater benefits for the region and its people.
“We need to strengthen the downstreaming of mining products through collaboration with Mining Industry Indonesia (MIND ID) as the holding company of national mining enterprises,” he said.
He explained that MIND ID oversees several major companies, including Freeport Indonesia, Aneka Tambang, Bukit Asam, Indonesia Asahan Aluminium, Timah, and Vale Indonesia.
Nawipa said the cooperation is expected to boost the mining sector’s contribution to regional economic growth while also increasing state revenue.
In addition, the provincial government will also organize small-scale mining activities to ensure they are more structured and provide direct benefits to indigenous communities, particularly through the issuance of Smallholder Mining Permits (IPR) based on cooperatives and MSMEs.
“We want customary landowners to become the main actors, so they truly benefit from their natural resources,” he said.
On the other hand, the Central Papua Provincial Government also reaffirmed its commitment to cracking down on illegal mining activities, which are considered harmful to the environment and trigger social conflicts.
According to Nawipa, mining sector restructuring will be carried out comprehensively, from eliminating illegal mining to strengthening downstream processing and sustainable governance.
“Everything must be properly regulated, taking into account environmental, security, and welfare aspects. That way, the benefits can be shared by all,” he said.
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Translator: Ali, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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