The last mile of mining reform: environmental groups urge the Ministry of Economic Affairs to stop shielding conglomerates
The mining law amendment has been reviewed multiple times in the Economics Committee of the Legislative Yuan, but key provisions, including "mining right extensions must obtain consent from the land use management authority," "mining right establishment must obtain consent from the competent authority for environmentally sensitive areas," "environmental impact assessment limited to one alternative proposal," and "consultation and consent rights," have all been opposed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and many progressive provisions have not been included in the "Executive Yuan Version A," which is most likely to pass in a future vote.
Environmental groups and legislators have repeatedly called for "the Ministry of Economic Affairs to stop shielding and amend the hegemonic mining law," saying mining reform is just one last mile away, and demanding that the Ministry of Economic Affairs stop shielding conglomerates, accept progressive provisions, and implement the true mining reform hoped for by the 210,000 people who signed the petition.
Legislators: The Ministry of Economic Affairs is shielding conglomerates
As the first anniversary of director Chi Po-lin's death approaches, Li Kencheng pointed out that at Chi Po-lin's memorial service, President Tsai Ing-wen declared that mining reform would be completed, "but the current Executive Yuan version of the mining law is a severe discount on mining reform." He called on the Ministry of Economic Affairs to stop shielding operators and truly implement mining reform.
Legislator Chou Chen Hsiu-hsia also questioned, "The Ministry of Economic Affairs seems to have been shielding conglomerates all along." There are more than 200 mines nationwide, affecting the safety and rights of nearby residents and also causing destruction to the nation's mountains and forests, yet the Ministry of Economic Affairs has kept insisting on its own position. She hoped the Ministry of Economic Affairs would consider national interests and people's rights, and not continue to protect conglomerates and destroy mountain forests. "Of course we cannot do without mining, but for the sake of the country and the people, the mining law must be properly amended."
In July last year, the Ministry of Economic Affairs announced a revised version of the mining law, and outsiders generally considered it "barely satisfactory, but still acceptable." However, after being sent to the Executive Yuan, the version proposed by the Executive Yuan was "a step backward." Regarding the possible passage of such a "backward-moving" version, Legislator Kao Chih-peng said he would try his best to facilitate an agreement, "and if it really does not work, then pass it entirely according to Legislator Chen Ming-wen's version, because this is the version announced by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in July last year." He stressed that he would specifically recommend passing at least Chen Ming-wen's version, rather than submitting multiple proposals together, and that the mining law absolutely must be included in the extraordinary session on June 11, pushing for passage of the mining law amendment by the end of this year.