Manokwari, W Papua, Sept. 25 -- The West Papua provincial government is finalizing a gubernatorial regulation to legalize small-scale mining in a bid to crack down on illegal operations, Governor Dominggus Mandacan said Thursday.

The regulation follows the 2023 passage of Regional Regulation No. 5 and aims to provide a legal framework for community-based mining while ensuring environmental protection and sustainable resource use.

"Once the regulation is in place, the governor can issue legal mining permits. Currently, most mining activities are unlicensed," Mandacan said.

The policy is part of Indonesia's push to regulate extractive industries and was developed in line with the 2021 Papua Special Autonomy Law.

Mandacan emphasized that...