REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Director General of Mineral and Coal Bambang Gatot Aryono said the regulation requiring mining companies to build smelters to process their minerals could optimize the domestic industry apart from giving added value.

"The consistency of the government in implementing the program of developing downstream industry by enforcing the regulation deserves support as it would bring about fundamental change with long term and sustainable benefit," Bambang said.

Sustainable implementation is important through synergy of all elements - regulations, investment and synchronization of upstream and downstream sector of mining, he told a seminar on "Indonesia Mining Conference" here on Wednesday.

However, the obligation of industrialization in the downstream sector should not be relied only on the private sector,he said.