Central Bangka Regent calls 44,000 hectares of Koba Tin land "no man's land"

Koba, Babel (ANTARA) - The Regent of Central Bangka, Bangka Belitung Islands Province, Algafry Rahman, said that the 44,000 hectares (ha) of former tin mining land belonging to PT Koba Tin was like "no man's land".

"There are around 44,000 hectares of land belonging to PT Koba Tin currently in a state of no man's land, while our people still depend on the mining sector for their economy, causing this tin," said Central Bangka Regent Algafry Rahman, in Koba, Sunday.

He explained that PT Koba Tin is a tin smelting company that has stopped operating since September 18 2013 because the Malaysian company's work contract was no longer extended.

Since then, said the Regent, the management of the company's mining working area has been handed over to PT Timah Tbk and the status of the Koba Tin mining working area is currently a state reserved area (WPN).

"We have conveyed this condition several times to the Governor to address it and form appropriate regulations in carrying out the tin manufacturing trade system in the regions," said Algafry.

The Regent did not deny that the mining sector which produces tin remains the "prima donna" of the community to run their economy.

"However, until now we have not been able to do much, because the world of tin is no longer under regional authority, while the environmental, social and economic impacts are already before our community's eyes," said the Regent.

For this reason, the Regent is trying to urge the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and Commission VII DPR RI to immediately regulate tin trading regulations in line with the community's expectations.

"Currently, our society needs clear regulations regarding the governance of this tin launch," he said.

The Regent also said that clear regulations regarding the governance of tin release are also to prevent tin smuggling in the business which can be detrimental to the state.

"This regulation is very necessary and we also recommend that more than 6,000 hectares be used as a community mining area, so that our people can mine officially without having to be "chased" by security forces," said the Regent.