"Economic development must not come at the expense of the environment. Exploration and extraction of mineral resources should not be carried out recklessly," said Yudhoyono, popularly known as AHY, during a transmigration-themed event in Jakarta on Sunday.
AHY stressed that mineral exploration activities must comply with laws and regulations to prevent environmental damage.
"A damaged environment can trigger natural disasters, and local communities are usually the most affected," he said.
He also highlighted the importance of green development and environmentally friendly infrastructure to support sustainable economic growth and climate change mitigation.
Earlier, Transmigration Minister M. Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara said the government was studying the potential use of transmigration land for coal and rare earth mining to create new economic growth centers.
"We have also identified rare earth potential in Mamuju, West Sulawesi," he said.
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Translator: M. Harianto, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Anton Santoso
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