Moratorium may hit $14bn of Indonesian mining projects

Daniel Murdiyarso, senior scientist at the West Java-based Center for International Forestry Research said the moratorium on the issue of new permits to clear natural and peatland forests could affect many production forests. "So if your mining concession is intersecting with production forest then it's very likely they will be affected. Most of the mining sectors, especially coal, will be affected." Indonesia has said existing permits would be honoured but Murdiyarso said it was unclear if the exemption applied if the firms planned to clear the forest after the moratorium comes into effect in January 2011.