By Asep Haryono 11/10/2013 08:48:00

PONTIANAK – Revenue from the mining sector for the district government and the West Kalimantan Provincial Government lost Rp72.82 billion in 2012. The amount is only from leasing land or mining concession land in the province. Supposedly, the regency government and the West Kalimantan Provincial Government receive income from leasing land in mining concessions in 2012 amounted to Rp.83,667 billion, but only Rp10,837 billion was obtained. “It means that there is lost regional income,” Arif Munandar from the Swandiri Institute said, Thursday (10/10).

From the Swandiri Institute analysis, in West Kalimantan, there are 8.5 million hectares of mining concessions owned by 356 companies. The biggest is in Ketapang. Based on Government Regulation No. 9 of 2012, when they have exploration permits, these companies are obliged to pay land rent to the district and provincial governments. “The calculation is the permit area x 2 dollars per hectare per year,” said Arif.

For mining companies that have entered the exploitation stage the obligations paid to the regions are even greater. The calculation is almost the same, it’s just that the tariff is 4 dollars per hectare per year. Arif said that the lost regional income potential was only from the aspect of land rent, not to mention royalties and taxes. Royalties earned are calculated based on the number of mines sold. “Each type of mine has a different percentage. For example bauxite, royalties for the region amounted to 3.75 percent of the selling price, “said Arif.

National Coordinator of Publish What You Pay Indonesia, Maryati Abdullah, said that land leases received by regional and provincial governments were transfers from the Central Government. The loss of regional revenue of more than Rp72 billion in 2012 is expected to occur due to several reasons. First, local governments do not submit proof of land rent payments to the Central Government. Even though the deposit is the basis for the Central Government to transfer the rent to the regional government. Second, companies that have concessions do not pay land rent to local governments. “The third allegation is a reduction in the company’s land area in the report,” she said.

Land leases from mining concession owners are halved, 80 percent for local governments and 20 percent for the Central Government. Regional government allocations are further divided, for mining producing districts by 64 percent then 16 percent by the provincial government. “However, if the concession is in two regencies or more rations, 80 percent of the land is owned by the provincial government,” said Maryati. In West Kalimantan, the largest mining companies are in Ketapang, which is 83 companies, then Kapuashulu with 65 companies, Sintang 57 companies, 54 Hedgehog companies, and 50 Melawi companies. (hen)

Source: Pontianakpost.com