Beginning next year, the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) will handle the issuance of licenses for companies looking to operate in the electricity and mineral sectors as part of the government’s program to transform the board into a one-stop licensing service.

BKPM’s chairman Franky Sibarani said on Friday that the licensing process in the electricity sector, which includes the issuance of permits for power plants, would be transferred from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry to his agency early next year.

“Electricity is currently a concern for the government, which is planning to produce 35,000 megawatts of additional capacity [within five years]. Moreover, many things have been delayed due to electricity issues,” Franky said.

The licensing process for the electricity sector would be formally transferred to the BKPM in January, along with the nationwide implementation of the integrated one-stop service for around another 500 sectors outside the energy ministry, Franky said.