TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The House of Representatives (DPR) will ratify the fourth amendment to Law Number 4 of 2009 concerning Mineral and Coal Mining or the Mining Bill (RUU Minerba) today, Tuesday, February 18, 2025. According to the DPR's schedule, the second-level discussion or decision-making on the Mining Bill is scheduled for 10:00 AM.

The amendment to the law regulates controversial provisions, such as the management of mines by social organizations or religious and higher education institutions. However, in line with the discussion of this amendment, the government and the DPR have finally agreed to discard the idea of allowing universities to manage mines.

Yesterday, all factions in the DPR approved the revision of the Mining Bill to become law. Eight factions in the parliament expressed their approval with their respective notes.

"Out of the eight factions, 100 percent all agreed," said Chair of the Legislative Body (Baleg) of the Indonesian House of Representatives Bob Hasan during the first-level decision-making plenary meeting of the Mining Bill in the Baleg room, the parliament building, Central Jakarta, Monday, February 17, 2025.

Bob explained that in the final draft of the Mining Bill revision, there are changes regarding indigenous communities and higher education institutions. From the series of meetings held, for example, the government and the parliament have finally agreed that universities will not directly manage mines. Previously, this idea was a clause proposed by the DPR.

The Chairman of Baleg explained that the changes were due to the opinions expressed by various parties in several hearings. "So this bill was not made haphazardly and hastily," he said.

The government, together with the DPR and the Regional Representative Council (DPD RI), have discussed the List of Inventory of Issues (DIM) of the Mining Bill in closed meetings for several days before the plenary meeting. The working committee of the Mining Bill reviewed the DIM on February 12, 13, 14, and 15, 2025. In fact, the meeting lasted until late at night several times.

After the plenary meeting, Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas affirmed that the clause allowing universities to manage mines has been revoked. "The government and the DPR have agreed that we will not grant concessions to universities," said Supratman in a press conference after the plenary meeting.

The earlier proposal for universities to manage mines was included in the amendment to Law Number 3 of 2020 concerning Mining.

Instead of being managed by the universities themselves, the government and the DPR have agreed to grant mining business permits (IUP) to third parties such as state-owned enterprises (BUMN), regional-owned enterprises (BUMD), and private enterprises.

In this regard, universities will only be the beneficiaries of mining. Supratman stated that third parties will assist universities in need. "Especially for research funding, and also including scholarships for their students," said the minister.

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