Jakarta, 30.11.2013 – The Fourth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals (AMMin) was held on 28 November 2013 in Bali, Indonesia.  Jero Wacik, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia, chaired the Meeting, and H.E. Somboun Rasasombath, Vice-Minister of Energy and Mines of Lao PDR, was the Vice-Chairperson.

The Fourth AMMin was officially opened by Jero Wacik, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia and followed by the official launching of the ASEAN Mineral Database and Information System (AMDIS) using Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standard. In his opening remarks, Jero Wacik, conveyed his deep condolences and sympathy to the people of the Philippines that were affected by Typhoon Haiyan. He conveyed President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s mandate to the ASEAN Ministers of Minerals that outcomes of the dialogues in ASEAN region should contribute on the prosperity of ASEAN people.

Minister Wacik welcomed with appreciation on the launch of the ASEAN Mineral Database and Information System (AMDIS) in order to support the development of the minerals sector. He also shared his views that the development of the minerals sector should contribute to the national development of ASEAN Member States, create jobs, enhance people’s welfare, and take due consideration on environmental protection. Lastly, he underscored the importance of further strengthening ASEAN minerals cooperation, particularly in ensuring accessibility and sustainability in minerals development, as well as to boost investment and trade in minerals sector in order to support the realisation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015.

ASEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY AND MINERALS SECTOR

In following up  the directive of the 23rd ASEAN Summit, held on 9 October 2013 in Brunei Darussalam, for the ASEAN Sectoral Bodies to redouble efforts in the implementation of the Roadmap for ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and to prioritise measures and deliverables to achieve the AEC by 2015, the Ministers reiterated their commitment to further strengthening cooperation with a view to enhance ASEAN mineral sector’s competitiveness to enable it to overcome the challenges, and advance ASEAN Member States’ common interests. The Ministers also agreed to intensify cooperation efforts to ensure credible integration results in the minerals sector by 2015.

The development of mineral resources has the potential to boost economic growth through the provision of employment, export revenues and investment in infrastructure and human capital. The demand for minerals in ASEAN would continue to grow on the back of continuing economic growth and market expansion within the ASEAN Member States. The Ministers therefore reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen the regional framework for mineral cooperation that aims to stimulate the development of the minerals added value and promote the wise use of the finite mineral resources.

Emphasising the importance of sustainable development and environmentally friendly development of mineral resources, the Ministers also agreed on the need for concerted efforts among ASEAN Member States to address the negative environmental and socio-economic impacts and perception of mining.

In order to achieve measureable success in sustainable minerals development, an effective public-private partnership should be re-enforced. Towards this end, the Ministers placed a strong emphasis on facilitating the private sector as the primary source of investment as well as fostering a more active participation of the private sector in the policy and regulatory discussion and participation.

ASEAN MINERALS COOPERATION ACTION PLAN 2011-2015

The Ministers reviewed the implementation of the cooperation activities reflected in the ASEAN Minerals Cooperation Action Plan (AMCAP) 2011-2015, particularly on the measures carried out under the strategic priorities, namely a) Facilitating and Enhancing Trade and Investment in Minerals, b) Promoting Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Mineral Development, and c) Strengthening Institutional and Human Capacities in the ASEAN Minerals Sector. The Ministers commended the Senior Officials for the excellent work carried out in 2011-2013 and expressed appreciation to the progress made in the implementation of the various cooperative programmes/activities in minerals cooperation under the Working Group on Minerals Information and Database (WGMID), Sustainable Mineral Development (WGSMD), Capacity Building (WGCBM), and Trade and Investment in Minerals (WGTIM).

Recognising the importance of providing the public and business community with greater access to information on minerals, the Ministers welcomed the launch of the ASEAN Mineral Database Information Systems (AMDIS). AMDIS contains data and information concerning mineral resources, minerals trade, research and development in minerals, capacity building, regulation, as well as minerals company profile.

The Ministers particularly acknowledged the successful implementation of the capacity building activities and events carried out by ASEAN Member States in cooperation with Dialogue Partners, among others: a) Training Program on Mineral Resource Database for ASEAN, b) International Conference on Geology and Natural Resources of ASEAN (Geo ASEAN), c) Training on Geological Surveys and Resources Mapping, d) Workshop on Mine Rehabilitation and Sustainable Development, e) 2nd Trans-Asia Coal Trading Forum, f) Training on Mining Investigation and Rehabilitation for ASEAN Member States, g) The 4th Training on Geological Mapping Capacity Building for ASEAN Member States, and h) Workshop on Technology and Methodology of Geochemical Mapping and Seminar on Capacity Building on Cross Border Geological Correlation. The Ministers also noted the outcomes of the Workshop on Permit Policy and Mechanism for Mineral Mining License in ASEAN Countries held on 27 August 2013, in Bukit Tinggi, Indonesia.

In order to provide support for effective implementation of the AMCAP 2011-2015, the Ministers encouraged the ASEAN Member States to support the ASEAN Mineral Trust Fund (AMTF) by remitting their contributions to the Fund. The Ministers agreed that the AMTF could be utilised for the projects and activities under AMCAP 2011-2015 and any other plans approved by the ASEAN Senior Officials on Minerals (ASOMM).

The Ministers lauded their Senior Officials, the ASEAN Secretariat as well as the ASEAN Federation of Mining Association (AFMA) and the Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP) for their continued vigorous initiation, coordination and facilitation in the implementation of the regional minerals programmes and activities under the AMCAP 2011-2015, and encouraged them to enhance their efforts in furthering ASEAN minerals cooperation and in ASEAN’s cooperation with the Dialogue Partners and International Organisations.

To advance the strategic agenda on minerals cooperation, the Ministers tasked the senior officials to commence the formulation of the next ASEAN Minerals Cooperation Action Plan for the period 2015-2019, which should be ready for adoption at the 5th AMMin in 2015.

COOPERATION WITH DIALOGUE PARTNERS

The Ministers were pleased with the development and progress of the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) cooperation under the ASOMM+3. The Ministers emphasised the benefits of having more inclusive frameworks on minerals cooperation and encouraged China, Japan and the Republic of Korea to exchange knowledge in the promotion of scientific and technological research in minerals, geoscience and geological mapping, as well as organising more workshops/training on minerals development.

The Ministers expressed their sincere appreciation to the Government and People of Indonesia for the warm hospitality accorded to the delegations and the excellent arrangements made for the 4th AMMin and Associated Meetings.

The Ministers agreed to convene the 5th AMMin in 2015 in Lao PDR. – Source: asean.org