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Indonesia to approve coal mine possession to Islamic group Nahdlatul Ulama

Indonesia is set to award a. coal mining concession to the nation's biggest Islamic group,. Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), next week to provide it with a source of. earnings, a cabinet minister said on Friday.

The federal government released a guideline last week allowing. religious organisations to manage mining properties, which critics. have stated signified pork barrelling and a benefit to. spiritual groups for their long political support.

Indonesia will award a coal concession in East Kalimantan to. NU, Financial Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia told press reporters.

Details about the concession will be exposed once the. permit has actually been granted, he said, however added that the area was. formerly a part of Kaltim Prima Coal's (KPC) old concession.

The size of KPC's mining location was cut by around 29,000. hectares (71,660 acres) when it was approved a brand-new authorization in. 2022.

NU did not right away respond to a request for comment.

The government would likewise provide comparable properties to other. religious groups, Bahlil stated.

This is the nation's contribution to them. Personally, I. think, all of us want to go to paradise, Bahlil stated, rejecting that. move was politically encouraged. It has absolutely nothing to do with. politics.

The mining organization requires huge capital, high levels of. innovation and qualified employees, which are difficult to attract. quickly for an organisation without experience, Komaidi. Notonegoro, an expert with Reforminer Institute.

The objectives are very good ... however if the instrument. picked is not appropriate, the concern is that this will end up being a. burden for all celebrations, he said.

Another major Islamic group Muhammadiyah stated it would not. rush into taking the duty to make certain the mining. management did not cause problems for the company,. communities, and the country.

(source: Reuters)