Indonesia’s New Coal and Mining Law: Its Consequences for the Environment
INDONESIA STUDIES PROGRAMME WEBINAR
About the Webinar
In early May 2020, Indonesia enacted a new Coal and Mineral Mining Law, replacing the previous 2009 Mining Law. The law is arguably a controversial one. The process of formulating the Bill was undertaken amidst the Covid-19 pandemic during a partial lock-down imposed by the government. The communities affected by the mining and coal-fired powerplants as well as the environmentalist groups showed strong public protest by refuting the law and calling it as socially and ecologically threatening and illegitimate.
From the environmental perspective, the new law would be best posited as a win for state-led extractivism. Since President Suharto’s era, extractivism has influenced the state management of natural resource extraction due to its fiscal reliance on the mining industry. It has allowed the widest possible opportunity for private and state companies to explore natural resources with minimal responsibility for repairing their damage.
This webinar will critically discuss the politics behind the passing of the new mining law and what are the major issues in the new law. It will also examine the existing system and mechanism to manage environmental devastation. The speaker will address questions on the social and ecological costs that Indonesia has to bear under the implementation of the new mining law. The future of state-led extractivism will also be a part of the discussion.
About the Speaker
Hendro Sangkoyo is a researcher and co-founder of the School of Democratic Economics, a social learning, research and solidarity web established in 2007. His research focus is on social-ecological crisis, energy systems, path dependence and extractivism.
About the Discussant
Made Supriatma is a Visiting Research Fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. His research focus is on Indonesian politics, civil-military relations, and ethnic/identity politics. His is also a free-lance journalist, writing mostly for Indonesian media.
Registration
This webinar will be delivered online entirely. You can join the webinar at the specified date and time using devices (computer, phone, or tablet) with internet connection.
Please register here to receive your unique link for joining the webinar.
Limited spaces only, register early to avoid disappointment.
To join the webinar,
1. Install the Zoom client onto your computer or download the app on your mobile device.
2. Set up a Zoom account, using the following link: https://zoom.us/signup
3. Click on the unique link in your email.
For the best experience, please mute your microphone. If you have questions for the speakers, please key in your questions via the Q&A, stating your name and affiliation. The moderator will field them to the speakers during the Q&A session.