As resource rich country, Indonesia still faced various challenges to ensure transparency in oil, gas, and mining sector. This condition can not be ignored, considering the benefit of those sectors for the society. Therefore, along with the visit of Clare Short, Chair of EITI, to Indonesia, PWYP Indonesia held public discussion, focusing on “The Challenges of Revenue Transparency in Oil, Gas, and Mining Sector”. This event was well received, given the number of the attendees, who come from various backgrounds, including CSOs, embassy, ministries, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as well as private entities.
The discussion was opened by Fabby Tumiwa as Board of PWYP Indonesia. Fabby expected that the discussion could generate ideas and action plan to promote transparency and accountability through EITI. The next opening speech was delivered by Emanuel Bria, Senior Officer for Asia Pacific Region in NRGI. Bria highlighted that EITI data should be analyzed further so that the public can understand it well and also it can be utilized to encourage policy changes in oil, gas, and mining sector. In addition, Bria expected that the discussion could go beyond political and social aspect.
On her keynote speech, Clare Short emphasized the beneficiary of transparency in oil, gas, and mining sector also corruption eradication and conflict resolution as the challenges on the improvement of oil, gas, and mining governance. Meanwhile, on the discussion session, The Chair of Natural Resources Team in KPK, Dian Patria, explained that in 2014, KPK along with Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry initiated Coordination and Supervision in mining sector in 12 provinces which is divided into two phases. In the first phase, KPK reported 810 problematic mining permits in 12 provinces has been revoked.
Dian also predicted that numbers will increase in line with the extension of deadline for the first phases from January 2015 to June 2015. Sujatmiko, Program Director of Mineral and Coal Development, added that in the future mining permits revocation will be done by provincial government in accordance with Local Government Reform Act 2014.